Kennedy tells anti-vaccine activists they have a friend in Trump’s White House

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered the keynote speech at an anti-vaccine conference he once led, assuring attendees that they had a friend in President Donald Trump's administration. Kennedy, who had previously chaired the Children's Health Defense group, addressed hundreds of activists at the annual meeting, praising the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the childhood vaccination schedule and reform a key vaccine advisory board.

These actions, which have since been halted by a judge, were met with support from Kennedy, who emphasized the administration's commitment to addressing concerns about vaccine safety and promoting public health discussions. Critics, including prominent medical associations, have raised concerns that the administration's policies could contribute to vaccine hesitancy and confusion among the public.

Kennedy, known for his vocal opposition to vaccines, emphasized that no vaccines were being withdrawn, but rather that questions were being asked to better align public health guidance with the concerns of parents and communities. The speech took place amid rising measles cases, with the United States experiencing its highest number of reported measles-associated deaths in over three decades.