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Top Republican 'struggling' with RFK Jr.'s nomination over Kennedy's vaccine views

Kennedy refused to say vaccines don't cause autism during his hearings.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, and Mary Kekatos
Last Updated: January 30, 2025, 6:14 PM GMT

President Donald Trump has promised he'd let Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "go wild" on health, food and medicine as head of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Kennedy, a Democrat who ran as an independent but ended up supporting Trump in the 2024 presidential campaign, was grilled by senators over his views on vaccines, abortion, Medicaid and more during two days of confirmation hearings.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, concluded Thursday's hearing by saying he was "struggling" with the nomination due to Kennedy's vaccine positions. Kennedy notably refused to say vaccines don't cause autism as he faced pointed question from lawmakers.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news developed:
Jan 29, 2025, 2:27 PM GMT

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defends RFK Jr

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ahead of his confirmation hearing in an interview Wednesday on ABC News' "Good Morning America."

She said she rejected the criticism Caroline Kennedy aimed at her cousin in a recently published letter.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appears on "Good Morning America," Jan. 29, 2025.
ABC News

"I would reject those comments fiercely. RFK Jr is widely respected. He's a great man who has dedicated his life to public service and to research," Leavitt said. "He is pro-science, and he is committed to making this country healthy again."

"President Trump stands strongly behind him, and we look forward to watching him shine on Capitol Hill today in his confirmation hearing, just like all of the other nominees that President Trump has appointed to their respective agencies and departments," she added.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Jan 29, 2025, 1:55 PM GMT

Caroline Kennedy urges senators to reject RFK's nomination

Caroline Kennedy, RFK Jr.'s cousin, wrote a letter to lawmakers warning she believed he is "unqualified" for the role.

She called him a "predator," shared disturbing details of his alleged behavior with animals and accused him of being "addicted to attention and power."

In a Dec. 7, 2019 file photo, Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, is seen before christening the nuclear aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va.
Steve Helber/AP

"The American health care system, for all its flaws, is the envy of the world. Its doctors and nurses, researchers, scientists, and caregivers are the most dedicated people I know. Every day, they give their lives to heal and save others. They deserve better than Bobby Kennedy – and so do the rest of us. I urge the Senate to reject his nomination," she concluded.

Read more about her letter to senators here.

Jan 29, 2025, 1:43 PM GMT

Kennedy set for grilling on vaccine views, food guidelines and more

Kennedy is sure to be asked about his past comments questioning vaccine science and the food industry.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of Health and Human Services, speaks during a meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 9, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

In private meetings with senators, Kennedy has been telling senators that he's not "anti-vaccine," but rather that he wants more study, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

Some Republicans have also said they want Kennedy, who was a Democrat before aligning with Trump in 2024, to clarify his position on abortion rights.

Read more about about what to expect from RFK's hearing here.

-ABC News' Anne Flaherty, Will McDuffie, Cheyenne Haslett and Olivia Rubin

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