President Donald Trump continues to endorse Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s sweeping changes to U.S. vaccine policies, even as they draw sharp rebukes from lawmakers and health experts.
Kennedy has moved aggressively since taking office, cutting funds for vaccine research, restricting access to COVID-19 vaccines, and removing the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which advises on national immunization guidelines.
These actions have sparked widespread alarm about their impact on public health, with experts warning of increased vulnerability to infectious diseases if vaccination rates decline.
Sources close to the president describe his support for Kennedy as unwavering, reflecting a broader pattern of challenging established institutions in healthcare and beyond.
During a White House briefing on Thursday, Trump praised Kennedy's approach.
"He's a, a very good person ... and he means very well, and he's got some little different ideas," Trump said.
The president highlighted the need for fresh perspectives on health issues, noting regular discussions with Kennedy, though not as frequent as with other cabinet members.
A White House official indicated that while Trump may not fully align with Kennedy on every point, he relies on the health secretary's expertise.
Trump's appointment of Kennedy followed strong backing from the Make America Healthy Again initiative during the 2024 campaign.
Kennedy, from the prominent Kennedy political family, had pursued his own presidential bid before endorsing Trump.
Trump's stance on vaccines remains nuanced, shaped by his role in accelerating COVID-19 vaccine development through Operation Warp Speed in his first term.
Yet, he has shown hesitation in promoting them, attuned to skepticism among Republican voters.
Recent polls reveal a partisan divide: 75% of Democrats now view childhood vaccines like those for measles and mumps as very safe, up from 64% in 2020, while only 41% of Republicans agree, down from 57%.
On Friday, Trump emphasized the effectiveness of vaccines during an Oval Office exchange.
"They're just, pure and simple — they work," he stated, urging caution against broad exemptions.
This comes after Florida's announcement to lift all state vaccine mandates, including school requirements, which Trump addressed with measured concern.
"You have to be very careful when you say that some people don't have to be vaccinated ... It's a very tough position," he added.
Congressional hearings have intensified scrutiny, with bipartisan lawmakers decrying Kennedy's leadership and policy shifts.
Republican allies, including Vice President JD Vance, have rallied online in defense.
Public health advocates fear long-term damage to research and disease prevention efforts.
One expert described the Trump-Kennedy partnership as a "marriage of convenience" with potentially "unprecedented and disastrous results" for public health.
Trump recently called for vaccine makers to substantiate life-saving claims, despite studies showing COVID-19 shots averted millions of hospitalizations and deaths.
As debates escalate, Trump's loyalty to Kennedy underscores the administration's disruptive agenda, balancing political loyalty against mounting health and electoral risks.