Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shared his plans for his role in the upcoming second term of the Donald Trump administration. Following Trump’s election as the 47th president of the United States, Kennedy revealed he has been asked to tackle major public health challenges.
In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson on election night, RFK Jr. outlined three key goals set for him by Trump in regard to public health agencies. Kennedy’s objectives center on restoring credibility and scientific integrity to these agencies, as well as addressing the ongoing chronic disease epidemic.
“President Trump has asked me to do three things,” Kennedy explained. “Number one, to get rid of the corruption of the conflicts – the agency capture phenomena that has turned these public health agencies away from public health and their principal objective now is to advance the mercantile interests of the pharmaceutical companies.”
Kennedy continued to stress the importance of returning public health agencies to their original mission. “Number two, return these agencies to the gold standard – scientific research and evidence-based research, empirically-based science,” he said. “When you and I were kids, they were famous for that around the world. They’ve lost that reputation now because they’ve been captured by industry.”
The third objective Kennedy highlighted was to address the nation’s chronic disease epidemic. He noted that Trump has expressed a desire for “concrete measurable results within two years” and Kennedy has promised to deliver on that. “I’ve promised him that I could do that,” Kennedy added.
When asked about the specific role he would take within the administration, Kennedy clarified that the details were still being worked out. He indicated that his position could either be as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) or as a Health Czar within the White House. “We haven’t figured out yet, but one way or another, we are going to end the chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy confirmed.
Kennedy’s commitment to improving public health aligns with his long-standing advocacy for science-based policy and reducing the influence of special interests on government agencies. His approach focuses on transparency and accountability, ensuring that health agencies focus on the public good rather than corporate interests.
As part of his efforts, Kennedy aims to dismantle what he describes as the “capture” of these agencies, a process where private industry interests become disproportionately influential in the decision-making of public institutions. By refocusing these agencies on empirical scientific research, Kennedy intends to restore their global reputation for trustworthiness and effectiveness.
In addition to these goals, Kennedy has pledged to address the rising epidemic of chronic diseases in the U.S., which he believes could be reversed with a renewed focus on evidence-based healthcare strategies.
Kennedy’s role in the Trump administration could mark a significant shift in how public health is approached in the United States, with an emphasis on scientific integrity, accountability, and addressing systemic health issues. His ambitious plan to overhaul public health agencies is poised to become one of the focal points of his potential tenure.