Trump Appoints Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary

Photo: Morry Gash Associated Press Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a Donald Trump campaign event Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Milwaukee.

Aurélia End – Agence France-Presse in Washington

Published at 12:42 Updated at 16:54

• United States

Donald Trump, who is placing his future administration under the banner of allegiance and rupture, announced on Thursday that he wanted to entrust the Department of Health to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (“RFK Jr.”), notoriously skeptical of vaccines.

Under his leadership, the department “will play a major role in ensuring that everyone is protected from the dangerous chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and food additives that have contributed to the enormous health crisis in this country,” the president-elect wrote on the social network X.

The nephew of assassinated President John F. Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer with no scientific training, has forged an unlikely alliance with the 78-year-old tribune since he stepped down in August as an independent presidential candidate.

He has propagated conspiracy theories, including about COVID-19 vaccines, and called for an end to the addition of fluoride to tap water. This measure to prevent cavities is considered by the medical community to be one of the greatest health successes of the 20th century in the United States.

Loyalty and rupture

Donald Trump has no intention of repeating what he described as the “biggest mistake” of his first term (2017-2021), in a podcast recorded at the end of October with the very influential Joe Rogan, namely choosing “people who were not loyal”.

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“Trump’s choices meet two criteria: loyalty and rupture”, analyses Todd Belt, professor of political science at George Washington University, for AFP. He wants to surround himself with loyalists who “are not going to spend their time telling him what he cannot do. “

Still to be filled are the positions of Treasury Secretary, Trade Secretary and White House Spokesperson, among others.

The president-elect, who will take office on January 20, had already sent shockwaves on Wednesday with his choices for the intelligence director and the Justice Department.

His nominations will have to be confirmed by the Senate.

Republican senators are certainly in the majority, but some seem unenthusiastic about the personalities nominated.

Thus Tulsi Gabbard, a defector from the Democratic Party known for her pro-Russia positions, as director of intelligence.

She had joined the conservative camp during a Donald Trump rally in October, describing the Republican, standing next to her with an approving smile, as a “president who has the courage and the strength to fight for the peace”.

By far the biggest announcement was that of Matt Gaetz as Attorney General. This thunderous Trumpist, who was suspected of having relations with an underage girl, led the overthrow of the Republican leader of the House of Representatives in the fall of 2022, sowing a monstrous political chaos.

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Telegenic

Donald Trump, with the exception of a quick visit to Washington on Wednesday, has been holed up in his Florida residence since his victory. According to the press, he chooses his lieutenants by watching televised speeches by the candidates.

His first term had been a succession of spectacular dismissals. Several former advisers or ministers have subsequently publicly turned against him.

This time, the 45th and soon to be 47th President of the United States is favouring personalities who sometimes have no experience of the state apparatus, but who support him unreservedly.

Like Elon Musk, who will lead a mission to reduce public spending and deregulate.

Several future ministers or advisers are regular guests on the conservatives’ favourite channel, Fox News.

Donald Trump, himself a former reality TV personality and a big television consumer, “likes people who come across well on screen — that’s very important to him,” Todd points out. Belt.

To lead the Pentagon, Donald Trump has directly chosen a Fox News host, Pete Hegseth. The appointment of this former military man, with no experience in high-level command, was a huge surprise.

The future president has made some choices that contrast with this quest for absolute loyalty, such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio, with whom he has had conflicting relations in the past, to lead diplomacy.