Great victory in the Senate for the confirmation of Robert Kennedy

On Thursday, the United States Senate confirmed the newly appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the new Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in President Donald Trump's cabinet, in a 52-48 vote, almost entirely along party lines.

This confirmation came after several weeks of hearings and discussions about Kennedy's record, known for his skeptical views on vaccines and his environmental activism.

Despite some doubts from some Republicans, his nomination to lead the HHS was supported by several members of the Senate, including those Republicans who initially had reservations about his stance on vaccines.

One of the most relevant points in Kennedy's confirmation was his previous comments linking some vaccines to autism, which led to some Democratic criticism. 

During the hearings, Democrats questioned his stance on vaccines, citing his long history as president of the organization Children's Health Defense, which opposes the use of vaccines and has sued the federal government on several occasions.

However, some Republicans, like Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician by profession, expressed concern about his approach to certain vaccines, but decided to strongly support his nomination after Kennedy offered a series of commitments, such as holding quarterly hearings and working together with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to review vaccine safety.

It is worth noting that the current critical approach against vaccines is based on the modification of their formula (mRNA vaccines) and their poor management during the Coronavirus crisis. 

Other Republicans, like Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, also supported Kennedy, despite still having reservations about his views on vaccines.

Collins highlighted that Kennedy had made significant commitments regarding transparency and the use of scientific research in decision-making, which led her to support him. However, Senator Mitch McConnell, a staunch vaccine advocate, was the only Republican who voted against Kennedy's nomination.

Kennedy's main argument for being confirmed as HHS Secretary was his focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle, focusing on the underlying causes of chronic diseases, reforming dietary guidelines, and fighting ultra-processed foods.

During his "Make America Healthy Again" campaign, Kennedy emphasized that chronic health issues were a greater threat to the country than other economic problems, such as marginal tax rates.

Regarding his political career, Kennedy launched a presidential bid in 2023 against President Joe Biden within the Democratic Party, but dropped his attempt for the 2024 elections and then ran as an independent.

In August 2024, Kennedy dropped his candidacy and largely endorsed Trump, which allowed him to gain the support of the former president, who nominated him for the position of HHS Secretary shortly after the November elections.

The 71-year-old Kennedy joined the Trump administration despite his history as an environmental advocate and critic of big pharmaceuticals and the food industry, two sectors with which he has had public confrontations.

Despite previous attacks on his person by some detractors, Kennedy received Senate confirmation on the same day that Tulsi Gabbard, another controversial figure, was confirmed as Director of National Intelligence, also with a narrow 52-48 vote.

The confirmation of Kennedy shows how Trump's cabinet choices are not influenced by political past, but by the intentions to improve the catastrophic situation in all areas left by the Biden administration.