Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces scrutiny over anti-vaccine views as Trump plans nomination for health department role

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long history of promoting anti-vaccine views, including the discredited claim that vaccines cause autism. He founded the nonprofit Children’s Health Defense, which spreads vaccine misinformation and has gained significant influence. President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees vaccine regulation. Kennedy has faced criticism for his controversial statements, including conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and public health mandates. Kennedy's group has been linked to various anti-vaccine campaigns and has received substantial funding from chiropractic groups. He has also been identified as a major source of vaccine misinformation on social media, with ongoing lawsuits against news organizations for addressing this issue.