Donald Trump suggested that vaccines could be banned if he becomes president, in the clearest sign yet of a radical change in public health policy as he bans his ally Robert F Kennedy Jr. would be in charge of it.
Trump said this on Sunday NBC that Kennedy, the anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and former independent candidate who dropped out to support Trump, would play a “major role in government” if he wins Tuesday’s presidential election. Trump said he would talk to Kennedy about vaccinations.
Kennedy has repeatedly claimed that childhood vaccines cause autism, a theory that scientists have debunked.
He has also said in recent days that Trump has promised him control over a wide range of public health agencies if he returns to the White House, potentially putting him in a position to implement his most radical theories.
Trump did not contradict that claim and kept open the possibility of banning certain vaccines.
“Well, I’m going to talk to him and talk to other people, and I’ll make a decision, but he’s a very talented man and has strong opinions,” the Republican candidate told NBC.
He also appeared to follow through on Kennedy’s pledge — made on social media last Friday — to ban fluoride in the water supply, a practice that public health experts support as helpful in combating dental disease. Kennedy called it “industrial waste” and claimed it was linked to cancer. Health organizations emphasize that it is safe.
Asked by NBC about his thoughts on getting rid of water fluoridation, Trump said: “Well, I haven’t talked to him about it yet, but it sounds good to me. You know, it’s possible.”
Kennedy, who is part of Trump’s transition team, claimed Last week, he was promised “control” of a range of public health and food safety agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Center for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration.
Trump has not specifically commented on what responsibilities Kennedy might bear, but told a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York last week that he would let him “go wild on food” and “go wild on medicine” if he would win the elections.
Howard Lutnick, Trump’s campaign co-chairman, further confirmed the weight Kennedy’s views could have in an administration when he told CNN that he could gain access to federal data on vaccine safety. He also appeared to endorse Kennedy’s views on the supposed risks of vaccines.
“He says, ‘If you give me the data, all I want is the data, and I’ll take the data and show it’s not secure,’” Lutnick said. “Let’s give him the data. I think it’ll be pretty cool to give him the data. Let’s see what he comes up with. I think it’s quite fun.”