Trump Presidency

[matthewfarmery]

Robert F Kennedy Jr has been nominated by President Donald Trump to be the next US health secretary, a post that oversees everything from medical research to food safety and public welfare programmes.

Speaking in an NPR interview, external in November, Kennedy said Trump had given him three “instructions”: to remove “corruption” from health agencies, to return these bodies to “evidence-based science and medicine”, and “to end the chronic disease epidemic”.

Some of Kennedy’s own stated aims for government are bound up with misinformation - and many medical experts have expressed serious concerns about his nomination, citing his views on vaccines and other health matters.

On other matters he has more support, for example in scrutinising the processing of food and the use of additives.
What does RFK Jr say about vaccine safety?

Kennedy said in his NPR interview that vaccines were “not going to be taken away from anybody”.

He says he wants to improve the science on vaccine safety which he believes has “huge deficits” and that he wants good information so people “can make informed choices“.

But his critique of the vaccine safety regime has been roundly dismissed by experts.

While Kennedy has denied, external on several occasions that he is anti-vaccination and said he and his children are vaccinated, he has repeatedly stated widely debunked claims about vaccine harm.

One of his main false claims - repeated in a 2023 interview with Fox News, external, was that “autism comes from vaccines”.

This theory was popularised by discredited UK doctor Andrew Wakefield.

But Wakefield's 1998 study was later retracted by the Lancet medical journal. Multiple studies since, across many countries, have concluded there is no link between vaccines and autism, external.

Dr David Elliman, a consultant in community child health at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, said RFK Jr has perpetuated myths around vaccination with “an utter disregard for the evidence”.

“If he is appointed and continues in the same mode, I fear not just for the vaccination programme in the US, but similar programmes around the world, and for healthcare in general," says Dr Elliman.

"Vaccination has probably saved more lives and is better researched than most, if not all, aspects of healthcare. RFK Jr could set this back and be responsible for the death and disability of myriads of people, particularly children.”

What RFK could do on vaccines, fluoride and drugs

Misleading claims on fluoride in drinking water

Fluoride - a naturally occurring mineral recognised to protect teeth against decay, external - is added to water supplies in many countries, including the US, where around 63% of the population have fluoridated water, external.

Kennedy has long campaigned against the practice, and claimed in a recent post on X, external that Trump, as president, would be advising ”all US water systems to remove fluoride from public water”.

The president-elect told the NBC network, external: “Well, I haven’t talked to [Kennedy] about it yet, but it sounds OK to me. You know, it’s possible.”

In his post on X, Kennedy said fluoride was “associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease".

But Prof Avijit Banerjee, chair of cariology and operative dentistry at King’s College London, said “the potential harmful effects of fluoride cited have not been associated with the very low levels of fluoride used in water fluoridation programmes”.

Kennedy cited a September 2024 ruling by a judge in California recommending further investigation into potential harms following the publication of a report suggesting possible links between exposure to higher levels of fluoride to lower IQ in children.

But that report has proved highly controversial. Dr Ray Lowry of the British Fluoridation Society notes that the ruling “was not an outright condemnation of fluoride; rather, it suggested that the EPA could investigate further to ensure an adequate safety margin.”


What has he said about ultra-processed food?

Kennedy has been outspoken about his concerns about additives in foods, and how big a part ultra-processed foods (UPFs) play in many people’s diets.

In October he said in a post on X, external that "ultra-processed food is driving the obesity epidemic.”

Kennedy has also linked UPFs with a range of medical conditions, external including cancers in young adults and mental health conditions.

There is a growing body of evidence that these foods aren’t good for us, and although recent research shows many pervasive health problems, including cancers, obesity and depression are associated with diet, there’s no clear evidence as yet that they are caused by UPFs.

Dr Nerys Astbury, a diet and obesity expert at the Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences at the University of Oxford, says that “while improving the diet and reducing body weight of the population will undoubtedly reduce the number of people who develop conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, the role of food processing in a healthy diet… is not clear”.

Dr David Nunan, from the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM) says “multiple factors, including broader lifestyle, socioeconomic determinants, and healthcare access, need to be considered. Studies to date cannot reliably separate out the individual impact of UPFs from these other factors”.

RFK Jr’s Covid claims widely criticised

A vocal critic of restrictions to limit the spread of Covid-19, Kennedy said at press event last year in a video posted by the New York Post, external that “Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.”

Health specialists say these claims are false and that the virus does not target any specific ethnic group.

“The claims of Robert F Kennedy Jr are very damaging given they do not follow scientific evidence,” says Prof Melinda Mills at Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Population Health.

“As many credible peer-reviewed Covid-19 studies have shown, external, differences in Covid infections and deaths between socioeconomic and ethnic groups is related to inequalities, deprivation and living in larger or intergenerational households.”

Following widespread criticism of his remarks, Kennedy posted on X, external that he does not "believe and never implied that the ethnic effect was deliberately engineered", and cited a study, claiming it supported his comments about genetic factors influencing immunity.

But one of the report authors responded by strongly rejecting this interpretation of the study and that its findings “never supported” Kennedy’s claims.

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That is from the BBC news site, and somewhat counters your claims Observe. RFK has no idea what he is saying, and more then once has said false things. and many experts don't agree with him. He isn't fit for the post.

[Observe]

Sorry, observe, but I totally don't believe you, He isn't qualified for the position he is in. He, like Trump are totally unfit for office.

So, you don't believe that the U.S. has the lowest health outcomes among developed nations-highest rates of chronic diseases, obesity, and infant mortality-despite heavy reliance on pharmaceuticals and vaccines?

Explain to me, how continued reliance on this so-called "science-based" (which translates into profit-based) system is going to result in better health. Explain to me how better nutrition and exercise, is a bad thing. Explain to me how better testing of new drugs (and yes, vaccines too) is unscientific. Explain to me how having a population that is unfit for military service is a good thing.

You say that you don't believe me, but you seem to accept without question, the authorities that have been doing such an utterly dismal job.

[clakclak]

Sorry, observe, but I totally don't believe you, He isn't qualified for the position he is in. He, like Trump are totally unfit for office.

So, you don't believe that the U.S. has the lowest health outcomes among developed nations-highest rates of chronic diseases, obesity, and infant mortality-despite heavy reliance on pharmaceuticals and vaccines?

Explaina to me, how continued reliance on this so-called "science-based" (which translates into profit-based) system is going to result in better health. […]

Every single country higher on the list has a science based healthcare system.

[Observe]

Sorry, observe, but I totally don't believe you, He isn't qualified for the position he is in. He, like Trump are totally unfit for office.

So, you don't believe that the U.S. has the lowest health outcomes among developed nations-highest rates of chronic diseases, obesity, and infant mortality-despite heavy reliance on pharmaceuticals and vaccines?

Explaina to me, how continued reliance on this so-called "science-based" (which translates into profit-based) system is going to result in better health. […]

Every single country higher on the list has a science based healthcare system.

Yes, but most other countries are actually interested in having a healthy population. Countries with a socialized medical system, don't want to waste money on treating illnesses that could be prevented by intelligent application of science. In the US, science is a tool for making money. Illness is promoted, because "health care" is a multi-billion-dollar industry.

[Vertigo 7]

ok, but we now have a measles outbreak in 30 states thanks to that imbicle. That hasn't been an issue in the US in decades. I mean, duh, doesn't take a rocket surgen to figure out what the problem there is. He did the same thing in Samoa just a couple of years ago. If you idiots wanna listen to RFK and do what the worm addled brain is telling you, go right ahead, but the rest of us don't need that crap.

[Observe]

ok, but we now have a measles outbreak in 30 states thanks to that imbicle. That hasn't been an issue in the US in decades. I mean, duh, doesn't take a rocket surgen to figure out what the problem there is.

The CDC reports 935 cases across 30 states as of May 1, 2025, which is significant but not unprecedented; 2019 saw over 1,200 cases. Note: Kennedy wasn't in charge in 2019. Granted, most (all) cases are among the unvaccinated.

Kennedy has made several public statements endorsing the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. In a 2025 CBS interview, he said "the (MMR vaccine) is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles" and encouraged vaccination.

If you idiots wanna listen to RFK and do what the worm addled brain is telling you, go right ahead, but the rest of us don't need that crap.

Are you really saying that you want to see even more obese children and diabetic adults? Even more poisoning of our food with chemicals. Even less people fit for military service. Even more people unnecessarily suffering from chronic disease. Life expectancy dropping even further. Is trying to remedy these problems the kind of "crap" that you are talking about?

[Vertigo 7]

ok, but we now have a measles outbreak in 30 states thanks to that imbicle. That hasn't been an issue in the US in decades. I mean, duh, doesn't take a rocket surgen to figure out what the problem there is.

The CDC reports 935 cases across 30 states as of May 1, 2025, which is significant but not unprecedented; 2019 saw over 1,200 cases. Note: Kennedy wasn't in charge in 2019. Granted, most (all) cases are among the unvaccinated.

Kennedy has made several public statements endorsing the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. In a 2025 CBS interview, he said "the (MMR vaccine) is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles" and encouraged vaccination.

If you idiots wanna listen to RFK and do what the worm addled brain is telling you, go right ahead, but the rest of us don't need that crap.

Are you really saying that you want to see even more obese children and diabetic adults? Even more poisoning of our food with chemicals. Even less people fit for military service. Even more people unnecessarily suffering from chronic disease. Life expectancy dropping even further. Is that the kind of "crap" that you are talking about?

GTFO with this nonsense. You've been preaching antivaxer BS since the moment COVID redflags started going up. Dont pretend you're goal is combatting obesiety. You're not fooling anyone. We all know your agenda is to push your anitvaxer conspiracy crap. We've watched you push it for years. And not once have you pushed anything that suggested you cared about people's weight and general health. There's dozens, if not hundreds, of actual doctors with actual, meaningful, information on diet, exercise, and weight management allllll over the internet but no, its always been this ridiculous nut job because he fits your agenda.

You keep going on about "extreme this and extreme that" Well, your nutter RFK is about as extreme as it f'n gets when it comes to health, and not in a good way.

[Observe]

You keep going on about "extreme this and extreme that" Well, your nutter RFK is about as extreme as it f'n gets when it comes to health, and not in a good way.

Kennedy is 71 years old. I don't know how old you are, but I'd wager that he can do more pull-ups than you can.

[Alan Phipps]

.. and this thread can be locked for a while until posters calm down and stop the personal bickering.

EDIT: Unlocked 09 May - but only for as long as posters keep it respectful, impersonal and on topic.

[matthewfarmery]

'Her detention cannot stand': Judge orders release of student arrested by Trump admin"

A federal judge has ordered the immediate release Turkish doctoral student who has been held at an immigration detention center for more than six weeks.

Tufts University scholar Rümeysa Öztürk was arrested by masked, plainclothes federal agents outside her Boston apartment in March and held since then as part of president Donald Trump's mass deportation program, but CBS News reported that an appeals court judge on Friday found that her First Amendment and due process rights had been violated.

So Trump's thugs are at it again, and I doubt she will be released. Trump admin / thugs are ignoring the law. America is quickly turning into a shithole.

In other news, China has decided to come to the bargaining table, to try and ease Trump's tariffs. And Trump has hinted they will come down, even though before that, he hinted they will stay put or go higher, then before that, said they will come down.

Trump is one evil SOB now. and is getting more and more cruel and stupid as days pass.

[clakclak]

'Her detention cannot stand': Judge orders release of student arrested by Trump admin"

A federal judge has ordered the immediate release Turkish doctoral student who has been held at an immigration detention center for more than six weeks.

Tufts University scholar Rümeysa Öztürk was arrested by masked, plainclothes federal agents outside her Boston apartment in March and held since then as part of president Donald Trump's mass deportation program, but CBS News reported that an appeals court judge on Friday found that her First Amendment and due process rights had been violated.

So Trump's thugs are at it again, and I doubt she will be released. Trump admin / thugs are ignoring the law. America is quickly turning into a shithole.

In other news, China has decided to come to the bargaining table, to try and ease Trump's tariffs. And Trump has hinted they will come down, even though before that, he hinted they will stay put or go higher, then before that, said they will come down.

Trump is one evil SOB now. and is getting more and more cruel and stupid as days pass.

This issue will soon be resolved once and for all. Stephen Miller said today that they are looking into suspending Habeas corpus, which would effectivly allow the American government to arrest ANYONE without any accountability as it would no longer be possible to challenge a persons incarceration in court.

[Vertigo 7]

I'm sure it's fine. He can do pull ups, so he's an effective leader. right? That's now things work, right?

[matthewfarmery]

'Her detention cannot stand': Judge orders release of student arrested by Trump admin"

A federal judge has ordered the immediate release Turkish doctoral student who has been held at an immigration detention center for more than six weeks.

Tufts University scholar Rümeysa Öztürk was arrested by masked, plainclothes federal agents outside her Boston apartment in March and held since then as part of president Donald Trump's mass deportation program, but CBS News reported that an appeals court judge on Friday found that her First Amendment and due process rights had been violated.

So Trump's thugs are at it again, and I doubt she will be released. Trump admin / thugs are ignoring the law. America is quickly turning into a shithole.

In other news, China has decided to come to the bargaining table, to try and ease Trump's tariffs. And Trump has hinted they will come down, even though before that, he hinted they will stay put or go higher, then before that, said they will come down.

Trump is one evil SOB now. and is getting more and more cruel and stupid as days pass.

This issue will soon be resolved once and for all. Stephen Miller said today that they are looking into suspending Habeas corpus, which would effectivly allow the American government to arrest ANYONE without any accountability as it would no longer be possible to challenge a persons incarceration in court.

So now they are declaring that America is being invaded, but by whom? Also the president can not suspend this act, only congress. So expect more raids, and soon it will get ugly.

[fiksal]

by non whites and liberals

[Chips]

So now they are declaring that America is being invaded, but by whom? Also the president can not suspend this act, only congress.

He who controls narrative on social media... there's no need for facts, evidence, truth. The US hasn't conducted itself in that manner for many months, and longer; as long as anyone caring is kept quietish, it's all fine. Get with the times

[felter]

So MAGA are not happy about the new pope, sort of, kind of, they are happy that America has its first ever pope, but they are complaining that he is not America first which that alone shows just how out of touch American Christians are.

Mattel the toy sellers, according to Trump is now a country and will have to pay the tariffs imposed on them like every other country, Americans will not be paying their tariff for them.

[fiksal]

it is interesting to see MAGA make its own version of Christianity compared to which Catholics look "liberal"

I look forward to them inventing a new name for their religion

[matthewfarmery]

They probably have already, they just against everyone's else’s' religion.

[matthewfarmery]

Things are escalating

ICE Threatens to Arrest Democratic Lawmakers

“Democratic members of Congress who were part of a scuffle with law enforcement officers at an ICE facility in New Jersey may face arrests,” Axios reports.

“It would be a major escalation in the Trump administration’s arrests of politicians and other public servants, including the mayor of Newark and a judge in Milwaukee.”

Right out of the Nazi playbook, start arresting people that disagree or stand up to the regime. The question is, who will be next on their hit list?

[fiksal]

at least some Democrats are on the right track
resistance is what we expect of them