Trump Says He Would Let Anti-Vaccine Advocate RFK Jr. 'Go Wild on Health'

Controversial figure has been criticized for spreading misinformation about vaccines

Former President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News that he would let anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "go wild on health" if he were elected president again. Kennedy is a vocal opponent of vaccines and has been criticized for spreading misinformation about their safety and effectiveness.

Trump's comments come as the nation grapples with a resurgence of measles, a preventable disease that has been making a comeback in recent years due to declining vaccination rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared vaccine hesitancy one of the top 10 global health threats.

Kennedy's Anti-Vaccine Claims

Kennedy has made a number of false and misleading claims about vaccines, including that they are linked to autism and other health problems. These claims have been repeatedly debunked by scientific studies, and there is no credible evidence to support them.

In 2019, Kennedy was banned from Instagram for spreading misinformation about vaccines. He has also been criticized by other public health experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Trump's Comments

Trump's comments about Kennedy have been met with widespread criticism from public health experts. Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, said that Trump's comments were "dangerous" and could lead to more people getting sick from preventable diseases.

"This is a very dangerous statement by the former president," Hotez said. "It's going to lead to more people getting sick and dying from preventable diseases."

Dr. Paul Offit, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, said that Trump's comments were "irresponsible" and could undermine public trust in vaccines.

"This is a very irresponsible statement by the former president," Offit said. "It's going to make it harder to convince people to get vaccinated, and that's going to lead to more outbreaks of preventable diseases."