RFK Jr. Tells Anti-Vaccine Group: Trump's a Friend

RFK Jr. Tells Anti-Vaccine Group: Trump's a Friend

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health Secretary, speaking at a podium with his hand raised.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health Secretary, speaks at Children's Health Defense conference.Illustration: The Frank

The News

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered the keynote address Thursday to Children's Health Defense, the anti-vaccine organization he founded, and told the group it has a "strong and steadfast friend at the White House" in President Donald Trump, according to NOTUS.

Axios reported that Kennedy used the speech to signal the Trump administration is not finished questioning the safety of routine shots or expanding carveouts to federal vaccine mandates, and that HHS is working behind the scenes on the issue. Axios also noted he steered clear of some of his most politically incendiary rhetoric.

The speech landed in the middle of a U.S. measles outbreak, and with Kennedy under fire from Democratic officials who blame him for falling immunization rates.

What He Said

Kennedy told the audience the true risks of vaccines are unknown and urged supporters to be patient while the government works to change federal vaccine recommendations, The Epoch Times reported. The Guardian reported he said he would have made sweeping changes "on day one" but had to follow the law. NOTUS reported the secretary also discussed chemtrails during the appearance.

Timeline

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, accuses Kennedy on CNN's "The Source with Kaitlan Collins" of failing to take adequate steps on the growing measles outbreak, saying the health secretary is not "connected or grounded in reality" and blaming him for a decline in measles immunizations.

Thursday morning, Sept. 17, 2026

The Washington Post reports Kennedy is set to keynote the conference of the anti-vaccine group he founded, noting that since his confirmation he has made clear he wants to overhaul the nation's immunization system.

Thursday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2026

Kennedy delivers the address. Raw Story reported the speech was repeatedly derailed by a reading lamp that kept falling off the podium and resisted his efforts to work it, drawing laughter from the friendly audience.

Reactions

Shapiro was the sharpest critic, telling CNN that Kennedy is not "connected or grounded in reality" on measles and tying the drop in immunization to the secretary's record, according to The Hill and abc27.

MSNBC described the Children's Health Defense conference as a homecoming for Kennedy and framed the appearance as an effort to rally a splintering anti-vaccine movement ahead of the midterms.

The Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial page argued that misinformation from Washington about the MMR vaccine has helped push U.S. measles cases to a 35-year high, and said Kennedy and Trump cannot be trusted on the shot's safety.

Kennedy's own message to the room was reassurance: the administration is on their side, and change is coming if they wait for it.

What's Next

Kennedy's remarks point to further federal action on vaccine policy — Axios reported HHS is working on continued scrutiny of routine shots and on widening exemptions to federal mandates, though the speech did not set a date for any change.

Kennedy asked supporters to be patient while recommendations are revisited, per The Epoch Times, which leaves the next move with HHS and its advisory process. Democratic governors, meanwhile, are expected to keep pressing him publicly as measles cases spread.

Poll

Should the health secretary headline conferences of anti-vaccine groups?

Yes — he can speak where he wants
0.0%
No — not while measles is spreading
0.0%
Only if he backs the vaccine schedule
0.0%

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