WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� swept onto Capitol Hill late Monday as the anti-vaccine health guru from the famous political family reintroduced himself to senators, this time as President-elect pick to lead the nation's Health and Human Services Department.
It was a soft-opening debut for Kennedy, whose 鈥� yes to raw milk, no to fluoride, Ozempic and America's favorite processed foods 鈥� are raising alarms in the scientific community and beyond. In the Senate he's facing a mix of support, curiosity, skepticism and downright rejection among the senators who will be asked to confirm him to Trump's Cabinet.
Kennedy's first stop Monday was on potentially friendly terrain, to the offices of a few GOP senators allied with Trump, the start of a robust, weeks-long process.
One Republican, Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, said Kennedy told him, 鈥淚 100% support the polio vaccination.鈥� But Mullin added that their conversation also turned to other childhood vaccinations. He predicts Kennedy will be confirmed.
鈥淭he more you talk to him, the more he explains it, the more you like him,鈥� Mullin said.
The man known simply as RFK, Jr., 70, is the latest in the Trump rival-turned-partner orbit, a former Democratic presidential hopeful now in line to run the world's largest public health agency, with its whopping $1.7 trillion budget, and some of the U.S. most important public services.
HHS has of Americans 鈥� inspecting the nation's food, regulating medicines and overseeing research of diseases and cures. It provides health insurance for nearly half of the country 鈥� poor, disabled and older Americans, including via Medicare.
Richard Besser, CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called Kennedy 鈥渁 truly dangerous鈥� choice.
Besser, in an op-ed in U.S. News and World Report, said Kennedy stands out as a 鈥渟ingle potential Cabinet member who could do the most damage to the American people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
Ahead of Kennedy's arrival he was given a word of advice from one important voice: outgoing Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, , who cautioned the nominee against views opposing the vaccine.
鈥淎nyone seeking the Senate鈥檚 consent to serve in the incoming Administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts,鈥� McConnell .
Trump said Monday during his own press conference about Kennedy, saying he will be 鈥渕uch less radical鈥� than people think.
The incoming GOP leader, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, said Kennedy will have to address questions about his views on the polio vaccine and other issues.
鈥淲ell, I think he鈥檒l have to address that,鈥� Thune said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l find out.鈥�
But hardline Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a House member who has no vote in the confirmation process, has been influential in supporting and amplifying Kennedy鈥檚 views on vaccines.
In the Capitol on Monday, Republican senators said they want to hear more about Kennedy鈥檚 views.
鈥淚鈥檓 open," said GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. But 鈥渋f you come in and say I won鈥檛 consider myself successful unless I eliminate these vaccines, that could be problematic.鈥�
Kennedy鈥檚 nomination will test the nation鈥檚 emerging political realignment, as Trump expands his base of supporters to include former Democratic voters shifting elsewhere. Kennedy鈥檚 views find favor but also opposition from both sides of the political aisle.
In particular, Kennedy's ideas about ridding the nation鈥檚 food of additives has drawn interest if not support from some Democrats, but his criticism of major farm interests have also raised concerns from the agricultural industry.
Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley says he鈥檚 interested in what Kennedy says about pigs 鈥渂ecause Iowa is the number one pig producer.鈥�
Other Trump nominees are also expected back on Capitol Hill this week. The president-elect's choice of Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, Tulsi Gabbard for Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Kash Patel for FBI director and others are all running into turbulence from wary senators.
With Republicans taking control of the Senate in the new year, Trump's nominees have a pathway to confirmation. But with just a 53-47 majority, any nominee can only lose a handful of GOP supporters, in the face of Democratic opposition.
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Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Stephen Groves contributed to this report
Lisa Mascaro And Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press
