Kennedy’s bid to serve as America’s top health official may be decided by a handful of Republicans, including several senators who questioned him Thursday.

Kennedy Jr. faced skeptical senators Thursday in the second day of his confirmation hearing to lead the department of Health and Human Services, Louisiana's Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy confronted Kennedy about vaccines.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was pressed to clarify his views on vaccines, abortion, and public health priorities in his first Senate hearing.

That almost messianic obsession — which arrogantly defies the weight of decades of science supporting the benefits of vaccines — should be enough to sink Kennedy’s nomination. But if they need more, senators should also be troubled by the nominee’s longstanding financial stake in suing the pharmaceutical companies that produce those vaccines.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. faced tough questions over vaccine skepticism and Medicaid reform at his confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Dr.

“There are so many things about RFK Jr. that would seem to make him a Democratic appointee instead of a Republican one — but so much of that is overshadowed by his anti-vaccine views, which resonate with Republicans after the Covid experience,” said Larry Levitt, executive vice president at the health policy think tank KFF.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s unorthodox views on a range of matters — from vaccines to fluoridated water (he opposes it) to raw milk (he embraces it) have made him one of the most polarizing Cabinet picks.

Kennedy’s confirmation vote in the Senate is sure to be a close one. If even just a few Republicans don’t support Kennedy, the bid could result in failure.

In his first Senate confirmation hearing to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. repeated claims we have written about before on vaccines and chronic disease.

Kennedy has repeatedly questioned the efficacy and even safety of vaccines touted by most doctors as medical miracles responsible for saving tens of million lives globally.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he supports vaccines and vowed to lessen the burden of chronic diseases during fiery questioning from senators who will decide whether to confirm him as President Trump’s health secretary.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified Wednesday he is not a conspiracy theorist and that vaccines are a critical component of health care, using a high-stakes Senate confirmation hearing to defend his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda and accuse Democrats of misconstruing his views or turning on him for partisan reasons.