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Robert F. Kennedy was nominated for health minister by President-elect Donald Trump, but many Nobel Prize winners are opposed to it.
UNITED STATES – A follower of conspiracy theories at the Ministry of Health. On November 14, Donald Trump rewarded the loyalty of the man nicknamed RFK, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, by appointing him Minister of Health in his future government. But more than 75 Nobel Prize winners oppose the nomination of this notorious anti-vaxxer and encourage the Senate to vote against, in an open letter shared Monday, December 9.
In addition to his lack of qualifications or relevant experience in medicine, science, public health, or government, Robert F. Kennedy was an opponent of many vaccines that have helped protect health and save lives, such as those against measles and polio »criticize in particular the signatories of the open letter.
“Given his record, placing Robert F. Kennedy in charge of the Department of Health would represent a risk to public health”write these 77 Nobel Prize winners in medicine, physics, chemistry or economics in this letter addressed to American senators. “We strongly encourage you to vote against the confirmation of his appointment as Minister of Health”they also urge senators. As required by the American Constitution, the appointment of members of the government must be subject to a confirmation vote in the Senate.
Among the signatories is Drew Weissman, Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2023 for his work on the development of messenger RNA vaccines, decisive in the fight against Covid-19. According to Richard Roberts, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1993, interviewed by the New York Timesthis is the first time in recent memory that Nobel Prize winners have united against the choice of a minister. But “these political attacks on science are very damaging”he said about the future minister’s vision of medicine. “We have to stand up and protect her.”
Chanter of disinformation
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his presidential campaign as an independent candidate and joined Trump last August. A former member of the Democratic Party, this nephew of JFK, who was once an environmental law lawyer, has propagated conspiracy theories about Covid-19 vaccines as well as alleged links between vaccination and autism. He also calls for an end to the addition of fluoride to running water, although it is considered a great health success in the fight against dental caries.
His anti-vaccination organization, the Children’s Health Defense (formerly World Mercury Project) was also banned from Meta social networks (Facebook, Instagram) for “ repeated violations » of Mark Zuckerberg’s company policy, because of his role in disinformation on health issues.
But Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is far, far from being the only personality appointed by Donald Trump for his future administration to cause scandal. The future Republican president has already suffered the forced removal of Matt Gaetz, his first choice for the post of Minister of Justice, after accusations of sexual relations with a minor. He also named Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor who was passionate about firearms and made sexist and transphobic comments, as head of the Defense Department.
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