Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced an intense Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday as Democrats aggressively questioned his past statements, political affiliations, and stance on vaccines. Kennedy, nominated by President Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), found himself under relentless fire from his former allies, many of whom once championed his environmental activism.
The hearing, which lasted over three hours, was repeatedly derailed by tense exchanges. At one point, Kennedy lamented the hostility he faced from Democrats who, he claimed, previously shared his views. “All these Democrats are opposed to me for partisan issues, they used to be my friends,” Kennedy stated. “They agreed with all the issues I’ve been working on my whole career. Now, they’re against me because anything President Trump does has to be discredited, derided, and vilified.”
Senator Ron Johnson talks to the press about the MAHA movement:
"We're all focusing on trying to accomplish what the American people want…. Let's restore integrity to science." pic.twitter.com/dX3kX9BlDU
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 29, 2025
Despite Kennedy’s long history of left-wing activism, his nomination has been met with skepticism from some conservatives. To address these concerns, Kennedy assured senators that he would faithfully execute President Trump’s healthcare agenda. He explicitly stated his commitment to following the president’s lead on abortion policy, including regulations on the abortion pill mifepristone. Additionally, he pushed back against accusations that he is “anti-vaccine,” though Democrats continued to press him on past remarks about vaccine safety.
Democratic lawmakers repeatedly questioned Kennedy’s credibility and consistency. Senator Elizabeth Warren accused him of having the power to “kill off access to vaccines and make millions of dollars while he does it.” Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders took a bizarre turn in the proceedings, loudly demanding that Kennedy explain his association with a group selling controversial merchandise.
Republican senators, however, largely defended Kennedy, focusing on his broader healthcare goals rather than past controversies. When asked about his top priority, Kennedy responded, “President Trump has asked me to end the chronic disease epidemic and make America healthy again … and that is what I’m doing.” He warned that unless chronic illness is addressed, debates over insurance policies are meaningless, comparing the current system to “moving deck chairs around on the Titanic.”
Kennedy also pledged to bring “radical transparency” to the HHS bureaucracy, referencing his long career of suing the federal government to obtain public records. His approach, he argued, would challenge entrenched interests and force accountability within the system.
Senator Ron Johnson, speaking outside the hearing room, criticized the extreme partisanship on display, noting that many of the medical professionals he has worked with were from across the political spectrum. “We’re all focused on trying to accomplish what the American people want. We want to understand what’s causing chronic illness. What caused autism? Let’s restore integrity to science. That’s all that Bobby Kennedy is about,” Johnson said.
