Senate Democrats scrutinized Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his controversial remarks, particularly his views on vaccines, during his confirmation hearing for the role of health and human services secretary under President Donald Trump. Many Democrats left the hearing dissatisfied with his responses.
The senators confronted Kennedy about his past statements, including his alleged role in a measles outbreak in Samoa in 2019, his perspectives on Covid-19, and his past claims falsely linking vaccines to autism.
Throughout the hearing, Democrats pressed him to commit to refraining from politically motivated firings and ensuring he would not use his position for financial gain. However, they did not receive definitive answers.
Republicans, on the other hand, appeared generally receptive to Kennedy despite his prior positions—especially on abortion—not fully aligning with conservative ideology.
Given the Senate’s narrow margins, Republicans can only afford to lose three votes from their party, and some GOP senators have yet to announce their decision. While Kennedy’s record has some overlap with Democratic policy positions, no Democrat has indicated support for his confirmation.
Kennedy’s first major test came during Wednesday’s Senate Finance Committee hearing, with another round of questioning scheduled for Thursday before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Kennedy Attempts to Distance Himself from Anti-Vaccine Stance
Kennedy sought to downplay his past anti-vaccine rhetoric and rejected the label of vaccine skeptic, despite his well-documented history of linking vaccines to autism.
“In my advocacy, I have often disturbed the status quo by asking uncomfortable questions. Well, I won’t apologize for that,” Kennedy stated. “We have massive health problems in this country that we must face honestly.”
Addressing Previous Conspiracy Theories
Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado was among the Democrats who challenged Kennedy on his past statements.
When questioned about his previous claim that Covid-19 was a “genetically engineered bio-weapon that targets Black and white people but spares Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people,” Kennedy responded: “I didn’t say it was deliberately targeted, I just quoted an NIH-published study.”
When asked whether he had stated that Lyme disease was “highly likely, militarily engineered as a bio-weapon,” Kennedy admitted, “I probably did say that.”
Bennet then turned to his Republican colleagues and emphasized, “I want them to hear it.”
Kennedy denied stating that pesticide exposure causes children to become transgender, but Bennet pushed back: “I have the record that I’ll give to the chairman.”
Kennedy also said he was unsure whether he had written in his book that it is “undeniable that African AIDS is an entirely different disease from Western AIDS.”
Following the hearing, Bennet told that Kennedy was spreading “half-truths” and cast doubt on his assertion that he is no longer anti-vaccine.
“There’s a long record here, and there’s a lot in that record that he’s trying to cover up with the opening statement that you heard and with his claim that he’s quote-unquote pro-vax now,” Bennet said.
Kennedy Clarifies His Abortion Stance
Kennedy sought to reassure conservative lawmakers about his abortion views, stating that he aligns with Trump’s position that “states should control abortion.”
“I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy. I agree with him that we cannot be a moral nation if we have 1.2 million abortions a year.
I agree with him that the states should control abortion,” Kennedy said in response to Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, who questioned him about Trump’s previous stance on Title X.
RFK Jr. (Photo: Getty Images)Despite this, some Republican senators and anti-abortion advocates have expressed skepticism, given Kennedy’s past support for abortion access until fetal viability and his previous Democratic presidential bid. GOP Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, an anti-abortion advocate, told that Kennedy needed to do more to address concerns regarding his past pro-choice stance.
Kennedy also suggested he would support protections for providers who refuse to perform reproductive health procedures due to moral objections.
“I don’t know anybody who would want to have a doctor performing a surgery that the doctor is morally opposed to,” he said.
“Forcing somebody to participate in a medical procedure as a provider that they believe is murder does not make any sense to me,” he added.
Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire challenged Kennedy’s evolving stance on abortion rights.
“It is remarkable that you have such a long record of fighting for women’s reproductive freedom, and really great that my Republican colleagues are so open to voting for a pro-choice HHS Secretary,” Hassan remarked after citing Kennedy’s previous pro-choice statements.
Kennedy reiterated, “I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy.”
Hassan then pressed him further: “When was it that you decided to sell out the values you’ve had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump?”
Kennedy’s Evasiveness on Key Commitments
Kennedy sidestepped direct answers regarding whether he would separate himself from his financial interests if confirmed or refrain from politically motivated firings.
When Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts asked him to pledge that he would not accept any compensation from lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies while serving as secretary or for four years afterward, Kennedy was noncommittal.
“I will certainly commit to that while I’m secretary. But I do want to clarify something because you’re making me sound like a shill,” he responded.
Kennedy’s financial disclosures indicate he earned more than $2.4 million from litigation pursued by Wisner Baum, a law firm specializing in pharmaceutical-related injury cases.
However, when pressed further, Kennedy refused to fully commit to avoiding financial gain from lawsuits, stating, “I’m not going to agree to not sue drug companies or anybody.”
Warren continued: “I am asking you to commit right now that you will not take a financial stake in every one of those lawsuits so that what you do as secretary will also benefit you financially down the line.” Kennedy responded, “I’ll comply with all the ethical guidance.”
Unconvinced, Warren fired back:
“No one should be fooled. And for all of his talk about ‘follow the science’ and his promise that he won’t interfere with those of us who want to vaccinate our kids.
The bottom line is the same. Kennedy can kill off access to vaccines and make millions of dollars while he does it. Kids might die, but Robert Kennedy could keep cashing in.”
Meanwhile, GOP Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, the panel’s chairman, noted that Kennedy had gone through the Office of Government Ethics process like any other Cabinet nominee.
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia also questioned Kennedy about his plans to dismiss employees at the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has previously stated he wants to remove 600 NIH workers, and Warner disclosed that Kennedy privately mentioned wanting to fire 2,200 HHS employees.
When asked to commit to protecting employees working on food safety and cybersecurity in healthcare, Kennedy responded, “I will commit to not firing anybody who’s doing their job.”
Warner pressed him further on whether these decisions would be based on his personal views, political agenda, or Trump’s directives.
“Based on my opinion,” Kennedy replied.
Areas of Agreement Between Democrats and Kennedy
Despite the contentious nature of the hearing, some Democrats acknowledged common ground with Kennedy, particularly regarding the chronic disease epidemic and his proposal for a nutrition-focused disease prevention plan.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, who attended law school with Kennedy, used his time to deliver a speech rather than question him.
Even Sen. Michael Bennet, who had aggressively questioned Kennedy, conceded, “Mr. Kennedy is right” regarding America’s declining health and poor nutrition.
Although no Democrat has publicly supported Kennedy’s confirmation, some have left the door open. “I’ve met with him, and that’s part of an ongoing dialogue,” said Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders also noted that Kennedy was “exactly correct” about problems within the food industry.
However, Senate Finance Committee Chair Sen. Ron Wyden dismissed the likelihood of Democratic support, stating Kennedy was “so untrustworthy and unprepared.”