US News : Trump nominates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary

US President-elect Donald Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, as his health and human services secretary on Thursday.

Trump announced the nomination on his Truth Social platform, stating, “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to public health.”

He emphasized that the Department of Health and Human Services “will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country.”

Trump added, “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!”

During his campaign, Trump had indicated his intention to assign the portfolio to the nephew of the assassinated president John F. Kennedy. After Kennedy ended his independent presidential bid in August and endorsed Trump, the President-elect mentioned he would allow Kennedy to “go wild” with health and food policy, a move that has alarmed many experts.