During his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, faced repeated interruptions from protesters challenging his stance on vaccines. Kennedy, in his opening statement, asserted he was "pro-safety," not anti-vaccine, a claim immediately disputed by a vocal protester. The disruptions continued, prompting Committee Chair Mike Crapo to warn against further outbursts and threaten to recess the hearing if order wasn't maintained.
Another protester displayed a sign declaring "Vaccines Save Lives, Not RFK JR." Kennedy's hearing before the Finance Committee is the first of two; he is scheduled to appear before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee the following day. This incident follows a pattern of protests during confirmation hearings for Trump administration nominees, including those of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Kennedy defended his position on vaccines, stating he has always advocated for awareness regarding mercury and toxic chemicals, emphasizing that this didn't make him "anti-fish." He reiterated his support for vaccines' crucial role in healthcare, mentioning his own children's vaccinations and his past writings explicitly stating he is not anti-vaccine. He framed his advocacy as questioning the status quo and raising uncomfortable but necessary questions about the nation's health challenges.
