Kennedy Stumbles In Confirmation Hearing

Fireworks erupted on Capitol Hill as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced harsh criticism from Democrats over his past statements opposing vaccines and other extreme views he has attempted to distance himself from in his bid to become the nation’s top health official, Bloomberg News reported.

Kennedy has drawn flack for past statements opposing vaccines, among other extreme views. I Photo: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Facebook

A Republican senator pressed Kennedy on how he would reform Medicaid—relied upon by one in five Americans—causing him to stumble in response.

Kennedy is the second of former President Donald Trump’s three most unconventional cabinet picks to undergo a confirmation hearing. The first, former cable television host Pete Hegseth, overcame a series of controversies to become Secretary of Defense after Vice President J.D. Vance cast the tie-breaking vote in a 50-50 Senate deadlock.

The third nominee, Tulsi Gabbard—a former member of Congress—has drawn scrutiny for her past comments that critics describe as apologetic toward Vladimir Putin and his war on Ukraine.

She also made a secret visit to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, a Putin ally whose military, with Russian support, was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands during Syria’s civil war.

Gabbard, who has advocated for limiting some of the powers of U.S. intelligence agencies, has been nominated by Trump to serve as the nation’s top intelligence official. Donald Trump Jr. has publicly warned of political reprisals against Republicans who vote against her confirmation.