According to the Nobelists, Kennedy has no qualifications or relevant experience in the field of medicine and public health, among other things.
Almost 80 Nobel laureates have signed an open letter expressing their opposition of Robert F. Kennedy Jr selection as the next US Secretary of Health.
Among other things, the group consisting of Nobel laureates in the fields of medicine and chemistry justifies its view with Kennedy’s anti-vaccination and the lack of his merits. According to them, Kennedy’s election to the position would endanger public health.
The next president of the United States Donald Trump named Kennedy as his choice for Secretary of Health in November. The US Congress still has to approve Kennedy’s nomination.
Among other things, Kennedy has criticized the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention and founded one of the country’s most prominent anti-vaccine groups. Kennedy has made a career as an environmental lawyer and has no medical background whatsoever. For years, he has supported conspiracy theories linking vaccines to autism. He has also spread false information about corona vaccines.
Not the only controversial ministerial candidate
Among the signatories is Drew Weissmanwho received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2023 for his work in developing mRNA vaccines. The vaccines in question were significant in the fight against the corona pandemic.
– In addition to having no qualifications or relevant experience in medicine, science, public health or government, Kennedy has opposed many health-protecting and life-saving vaccines, the letter says, citing measles and polio vaccines as examples.
– We strongly urge you to vote against confirming his appointment, the letter continued.
Kennedy is by no means the only controversial personnel choice Trump has made.
Trump’s first choice for attorney general was a congressman Matt Gaetzwho, however, stepped aside when his alleged sexual intercourse with a minor ended up being the cause again.
Trump’s allies have also worried about the future president’s nominee for defense minister, the Fox News host Pete Hegseth the accusations related to private life made against Hegseth’s past has revealed, among other things, an accusation of a sexual crime.