A heated exchange erupted between Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during his senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday.The exchange erupted when Warren asked Kennedy about his previous anti-vaccine statements, which Kennedy appeared to walk back during the hearing. “There is no vaccine that is safe and effective,” Kennedy said on The Lex Fridman Podcast in July 2023.”News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry; I am neither,” Kennedy said during the hearing. “I am pro-safety.”When Warren was asked if she was satisfied with Kennedy’s answers to her questions, she said, “No, his answers are he intends to continue to make money off his anti-vaccine position.”If confirmed, Kennedy will play a big role in vaccine recommendations, food inspections and Medicare and Medicaid.Kennedy suggested merging Medicare and Medicaid, but did not provide a plan on how to do that.He said a top concern is high health care costs due to chronic diseases.Additionally, he wants to prioritize long-COVID research and implement regulations on abortion drugs.The latter was reassuring to Republican senators that he believes states should have control on abortion.”I serve at the pleasure of the president. I’m going to implement his policies,” Kennedy said.Wednesday’s hearing was the first of two confirmation hearings.Kennedy will go before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday.
A heated exchange erupted between Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during his senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday.
The exchange erupted when Warren asked Kennedy about his previous anti-vaccine statements, which Kennedy appeared to walk back during the hearing.
“There is no vaccine that is safe and effective,” Kennedy said on The Lex Fridman Podcast in July 2023.
“News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry; I am neither,” Kennedy said during the hearing. “I am pro-safety.”
When Warren was asked if she was satisfied with Kennedy’s answers to her questions, she said, “No, his answers are he intends to continue to make money off his anti-vaccine position.”
If confirmed, Kennedy will play a big role in vaccine recommendations, food inspections and Medicare and Medicaid.
Kennedy suggested merging Medicare and Medicaid, but did not provide a plan on how to do that.
He said a top concern is high health care costs due to chronic diseases.
Additionally, he wants to prioritize long-COVID research and implement regulations on abortion drugs.
The latter was reassuring to Republican senators that he believes states should have control on abortion.
“I serve at the pleasure of the president. I’m going to implement his policies,” Kennedy said.
Wednesday’s hearing was the first of two confirmation hearings.
Kennedy will go before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday.
