President Donald Trump publicly backed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. after he endured intense questioning from senators during a Senate hearing. Speaking at a White House event with technology leaders, Trump remarked, “I like the fact that he’s different,” emphasizing Kennedy’s ‘different ideas’ and suggesting that his approach is worth considering. Although Trump admitted he did not watch the hearing, he expressed confidence in Kennedy, calling him a ‘very good person.’
During the hearing, Kennedy faced tough questions from Democratic senators, including Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, who accused him of putting children at risk with his policies. Wyden criticized Kennedy for his stance on vaccines and health policy, suggesting that his actions could lead to preventable child deaths. In response, Kennedy pointed to rising chronic disease rates in children over the past two decades, attributing the issue to past administrations rather than his current role. He argued that the increase in infant mortality was not caused by his actions but by policies implemented during the previous administration.
Vice President JD Vance also defended Kennedy, posting on X that the senators who questioned him were ‘full of s— and everyone knows it.’ Vance criticized their approach to health policy, accusing them of supporting ‘untested and irreversible hormonal therapies’ for children while enriching big pharmaceutical companies. Kennedy reposted Vance’s comments, agreeing that the senators’ actions were a key issue. The hearing came a day after over 1,000 former and current HHS employees signed a letter demanding Kennedy’s resignation, and Sen. Bernie Sanders also called for his resignation.