WASHINGTON — Senators questioned Robert Kennedy Jr. on vaccines, abortion, obesity and more on Thursday during the second day of his confirmation hearings to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy’s body language communicated greater ease than Wednesday’s hearing. He sat forward in his seat, his hands clasped on the desk. His gestures, too, were larger. As senators asked questions, Kennedy alternated between dodging and addressing their concerns. Several times, the committee chair banged the gavel, marking the end of each senator’s five minutes to question Kennedy.
Democrats and several Republicans scrutinized Kennedy’s views, with senators from both parties referencing research documenting the efficacy of various vaccines and medications. They questioned Kennedy’s past allegations about a link between autism and vaccines. One senator also cited studies on the safety of mifepristone, a drug often used in medical abortions.
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) asks Kennedy to elaborate on a 2021 comment about how Black people should have different vaccine schedules than white people because their immune systems are “better than ours.” She adds, “Your voice would be a voice that parents would listen to. That is so dangerous. I will be voting against your nomination because your views are dangerous to our state and to our country.” (Valerie Chu/MNS)
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) asks how many studies Kennedy needs to see before deeming a medication safe. “With mifepristone, President Trump has not chosen a policy,” Kennedy says after several attempts to qualify the question. (Valerie Chu/MNS)
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) questions Kennedy about a previous tweet about 9/11 and his past comments that people in power lie. (Valerie Chu/MNS)
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) questions one of Kennedy’s previous comments comparing pedophilia in the Catholic church to the administration of vaccines. “You’re not questioning science,” Murphy says. “You’ve made up your mind.” (Valerie Chu/MNS)
In response to questions from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Kennedy says that he would not support conducting federal research on fetal tissues from abortions and that he would not support gender affirming surgery for minors. “It’s unconscionable,” Kennedy says. (Valerie Chu/MNS)
Kennedy agrees with Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) that “absolutely,” obesity is a public health and national security risk. Banks reassures Kennedy that he has his “full support.” (Valerie Chu/MNS)
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) watches the hearing during a particularly intense moment, at times correcting statements Kennedy and other senators make on topics such as abortion. He is the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. (Valerie Chu/MNS)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) asks about the health of Native American populations. Kennedy says he would make sure the department’s decisions are conscious of the First Nations. He emphasizes focusing on telemedicine and AI. (Valerie Chu/MNS)
Robert Kennedy Jr. exits the room after the hearing ends. (Valerie Chu/MNS)
One point of contention was what it takes for a drug to be considered safe, and whether Kennedy would retract his past comments casting doubt on the safety of certain vaccines and medications. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and several more senators all asked variations of that question — each focused on different topics.
“If we were to talk about peer-reviewed, replicable studies of a medication, would you say that you needed 10 trusted studies to get the same conclusion? Fifteen? Twenty trusted studies?” Baldwin asked. “What’s your number?”
Kennedy responded, “it completely depends on the kind of study you’re talking about.” Then, he added that on mifepristone, Trump has not chosen a policy, and he would implement that policy.
Many of Kennedy’s other statements were similar. He defended his previous statements, said he would evaluate the scientific evidence and stuck to that statement when senators cited specific scientific evidence.
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) asked Kennedy to elaborate on a 2021 comment about how Black people should have different vaccine schedules than white people because their immune systems are “better than ours.”
At the hearing, Kennedy defended his earlier comments, saying that there was a series of studies which showed “differences in reactions to different products by different races.”
Alsobrooks shot back: “Your voice would be a voice that parents would listen to. That is so dangerous. I will be voting against your nomination because your views are dangerous to our state and to our country.” Several people in the hearing room began clapping.
Three hours later, Kennedy’s confirmation hearing ended.
“Thank you, Bobby!” several people shouted from the crowd as Kennedy shook hands with various senators before leaving the room. A group of people wearing lab coats in the back row watched silently.
