USA Robert F. Kennedy Jr. under discussion as Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services
Donald Trump plans to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services to reform public health policy. Kennedy, known for his controversial views, is set to take on a key role in Trump's administration.
14.11.2024, 22:34
14.11.2024, 22:35
SDA
US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services in his future administration. According to Trump, Kennedy, who has made a name for himself as an anti-vaccination campaigner, will fight the "epidemic of chronic diseases" and improve the health of Americans. Trump emphasized that citizens had suffered from deception and disinformation in the healthcare system for too long.
During his election campaign, Trump had already signaled that Kennedy would play a significant role in health policy. He promised to use the best experts, including Kennedy, to promote children's health. An ambitious goal is to halve the rates of cancer, depression and suicide in children within four years, although Trump did not mention any specific measures to achieve these goals.
Kennedy's political turnaround
Shortly before the election, Kennedy announced that Trump had offered him the leadership of both the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture. Kennedy plans to improve the health of Americans by reducing the use of pesticides in agriculture. Originally running as an independent candidate in the presidential election, Kennedy withdrew his candidacy and joined Trump to avoid being a vote catcher for the Democrats.
Kennedy, a member of the famous Kennedy family and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, was a longtime Democrat before distancing himself from the party. His views on vaccinations and his links to far-right politicians have earned him criticism both within his family and from Democrats.
Trump's government team is forming
Following his election victory, Trump quickly began forming his government team and announced several personnel decisions. TV presenter Pete Hegseth is to become Secretary of Defense, while former congressman Matt Gaetz is to become Attorney General. Kristi Noem, the Governor of South Dakota, is to head the Department of Homeland Security.
Normally, ministerial posts have to be confirmed by the Senate, but Trump has proposed bypassing this by means of an exemption. In addition to the ministerial posts, Trump has also filled advisor positions in the White House that do not require Senate confirmation. Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, is to act as an external adviser on reducing government spending.
In Trump's first term from 2017 to 2021, his administration was characterized by a high turnover of staff changes. Many ministers and employees were dismissed or resigned. The people nominated so far are considered particularly loyal to Trump.
