President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head up one of America’s top health agencies.

An exclusive from Politico revealed that Trump will appoint the son of the American political dynasty to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This comes after Trump previously promised on the campaign trail to let Kennedy “go wild” with public health policies in his administration, after the two men joined forces in the lead-up to the November 5, 2024, presidential election.

HHS oversees key agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Following the news leak by Politico on Thursday, Trump took to social media later that day to confirm he had chosen Kennedy for the position.

“I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). …  Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!” Trump tweeted on X.

A flurry of rumors swirled post-election that Trump would not fulfill his promise to appoint the son of slain 1968 presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy to a role in the administration.

As other high-profile nominations, such as Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence, went to supporters such as Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and former Hawaii Congresswoman and Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, some grew concerned that Kennedy was getting shafted.


“Seems one big name is missing in this nomination flurry. I could be wrong, but sure feels like Trump made a bunch of promises to and about RFK Jr. just to get elected and isn’t going to follow through. Like a whole lot of people got conned by the lifelong con man,” former journalist Jacki Schechner tweeted.


“[Let] me make something clear. all these rumors about trump/team possibly screwing over #rfkjr or whatever… i don’t think that’s true, but if it is, and that does happen, i don’t think even maga would stand for it. i’ve heard from numerous maga folks personally, that they’d be the first to call out trump on that. let’s give it a chance, it’s literally day 2, he’s not even in office yet,” X user @Neelan wrote.

Less than 10 minutes after phones lit up with notifications about the Politico story, Vanity Fair posted a competing article that said Kennedy had been offered a health czar position. Czar is an informal term in the political world that refers to someone who advises the president and takes on a specific, and often specialized, portfolio of tasks within an administration.

Vanity Fair reported that a potential Czar Kennedy would oversee all the major health agencies including HHS and USDA.

This was congruent with previous reporting from The Dallas Express and statements from Kennedy.

RFK Jr. previously appeared to imply that he would serve as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), but after election day, he generalized his potential portfolio and made it clear his job in the White House would be focused on public health, although he remained vague as to what specific job he might assume.

Kennedy is an environmental attorney with decades of experience in consumer protection litigation. His national profile increased during the COVID-19 pandemic when he published a scathing book titled Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health about the allegations of corruption that swirled around the man who was then America’s top doctor.

During an event in Dallas earlier this year, Kennedy, who was then running for president as an independent candidate, spoke about his vision for America’s public health agencies.

“All three of the principal health agencies [CDC, NIH, FDA] suffer from agency capture,” Kennedy told DX. “I would say 50% of the FDA’s budget is from pharmaceutical companies. NIH scientists are allowed to collect royalties on drugs that they regulate –– which is clearly a conflict of interest. CDC … has devolved into an agency that primarily promotes the mercantile interests of the pharmaceutical companies.”

He then laid out his plan for what he would do as president.

“I have litigated against all of these agencies, and I know the individuals in the agencies that need to be moved. … I understand the perverse incentives that put agency capture on steroids,” Kennedy added. “I will change those incentives and unravel the culture of corruption that now has turned these agencies against public health.”

To assume the cabinet-level position in the 47th president’s administration, Kennedy must receive confirmation from a majority in the Senate. In the next congress, 53 of 100 seats in the Senate will be held by Republicans.

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