Robert F. Kennedy Jr. narrowly confirmed by Senate as Trump's health secretary

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services was narrowly confirmed by the Senate on Thursday.

The final vote was 52-48. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who overcame polio at a young age, was the sole Republican to oppose Kennedy and vote no. Democrats were unanimous in their opposition to Kennedy.

In a statement outlining his decision, McConnell cited his childhood experience with the disease and said he will "not condone the re-litigation of proven cures."

"Mr. Kennedy failed to prove he is the best possible person to lead America's largest health agency," McConnell said. "As he takes office, I sincerely hope Mr. Kennedy will choose not to sow further doubt and division but to restore trust in our public health institutions."

Kennedy's confirmation comes after months of controversy and debate, largely focused on his past comments casting doubt on the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

An environmental lawyer with no experience working in health administration or medicine, Kennedy will now oversee a sprawling network of agencies that provide health coverage to millions of Americans, regulate the food industry and respond to global health threats.

President Donald Trump joined as Kennedy was sworn in at the White House. Kennedy was with his wife, Cheryl Hines, and other family members.

"Bobby did great," Trump said as he spoke with reporters in the Oval Office beforehand. "Got more votes than anybody thought. And I think he's going to do phenomenally, just phenomenally in that position."

Trump said he would be signing an executive order establishing a "Make America Healthy Again" commission that will be tasked with investigating the increase in chronic illnesses.

Kennedy spoke on his goals after he was sworn in, and praised the Trump administration's chaotic dismantling of USAID -- which is currently being challenged in the courts. USAID was created when President John F. Kennedy (RFK Jr.'s uncle) when he signed the Foreign Assistance Act.

Kennedy said he wanted to do what the administration did with USAID to health agencies.

"Very few people understand how sinister this agency really is," Kennedy said. "And President Trump saw that, and he stood up with a masterstroke. And we want to do the same thing with the institutions that are stealing the health of our children."

Asked if he had plans to fire anyone immediately, and at what agencies, Kennedy said they want to look at National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Trump embraced Kennedy on the campaign trail after the scion of America's most famous Democratic dynasty dropped his own independent bid for president and endorsed Trump.

Shortly after the election, Trump tapped Kennedy to lead HHS and promised to let him "go wild" on health.

During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy was grilled on his past claims about vaccinations, including his unfounded claims linking them to autism.

In a shift from previous statements, Kennedy voiced support for polio and measles immunizations. He told lawmakers he was not "anti-vaccine" but rather "pro-safety." Though, he still refused to say that vaccines were not linked to autism or that COVID-19 vaccines saved lives.

But the comments appeared enough for some skeptical Republican senators to come to his side. Trump and Vice President JD Vance also called senators to rally support for Kennedy.

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, a longtime physician and vaccine advocate who openly struggled with Kennedy's nomination, voted to report his nomination out of committee and to the Senate floor.

Cassidy said he received several commitments from Kennedy, including meetings several times a month and advance notice to Congress if HHS plans to seek any changes to vaccine programs.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, considered another swing vote, earlier this week announced she'd vote for Kennedy after raising concerns about the Trump administration's directive for the National Institutes of Health to cut support for health research at universities. (The policy has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge).

"He said he would re-examine them and seemed to understand," Collins said of Kennedy.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had made a final plea to his colleagues shortly before the vote to oppose Kennedy.

"A vote to confirm Mr. Kennedy is a vote to make America sicker," Schumer said.