Summary

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services secretary, has a history of extreme rhetoric and conspiracy theories about vaccines.

In previously unreported comments at autism conferences, Kennedy likened vaccination programs to Catholic Church abuse scandals and Nazi death camps and argued for jailing vaccine scientists.

He has falsely claimed vaccines cause autism and accused public health agencies like the CDC of corruption and hiding vaccine dangers.

Critics fear his leadership could dismantle vaccine safety efforts, decrease public trust, and disrupt public health policy.