Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The US vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, arguing it does not condemn Hamas nor grant "Israel" the right to “self-defense.”
Israeli occupation forces issue a new bombing threat against civilian buildings in the Southern Lebanese towns of Borj Qalaouiye and Chehabiyeh.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Extending the snapback mechanism deadline will test how independent Europeans truly are from the US.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Activating the snapback mechanism will nullify the Cairo Agreement, shut the door on cooperation between the IAEA and Tehran, and bar inspections.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The diplomatic window remains open, but signs of activating the snapback sanctions mechanism on Iran are increasing.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Although the Cairo Agreement meets an important part of European demands, they have begun speaking of new conditions in recent communications.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: European countries show no independence in their stance toward Iran during the talks.
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.

RFK Jr. advances in contentious Senate vote for Health Secretary post

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Feb 2025 23:33
4 Min Read

Many Republicans remain uneasy about RFK Jr.'s past support for abortion rights, his lawsuits against major corporations, and his 2023 presidential campaign as a Democrat.

Listen
  • x
  • AP
    Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., center, speaks with Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., left, after the Senate Finance Committee voted to approve the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic and President Donald Trump's nominee for Health Secretary, has advanced past a key Senate vote despite opposition from both parties. The Senate Finance Committee, where Republicans hold a narrow majority, voted 14-13 along party lines on Tuesday to send his nomination to the Senate floor for final confirmation.

His advancement largely hinged on Senator Bill Cassidy, a medical doctor who has been one of Kennedy's strongest critics regarding his claims linking vaccines to autism. Cassidy ultimately backed the nominee after Kennedy assured lawmakers that he would not alter the nation's childhood vaccination program and would maintain existing vaccine recommendations.

His support came after a strong endorsement from Trump, who had previously criticized Kennedy but urged senators to back him. Ahead of the vote, Trump took to Truth Social, writing, "20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW IT'S 1 in 34. WOW! Something's really wrong. We need BOBBY!!!"

Kennedy Controversy

Related News

US Senate grills RFK Jr over vaccine policies, public health risks

CDC marred with chaos as ousted chief refuses to resign

Kennedy's nomination has been met with resistance from both Republicans and Democrats. Many Republicans remain uneasy about his past support for abortion rights, his lawsuits against major corporations, and his 2023 presidential campaign as a Democrat. Democrats, on the other hand, have voiced concerns over his history of spreading vaccine misinformation, allegations of sexual misconduct, and his suggestion that COVID-19 was engineered to spare Jewish people.

Some also point to his claims linking school shootings to antidepressants and accusations that he has profited from lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest if he were to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Senator Elizabeth Warren was among those who condemned his nomination, calling Kennedy an "anti-science conspiracy peddler who is willing to gamble with American lives."

The backlash to Kennedy's nomination has not been limited to lawmakers. The New York Post, a conservative-leaning newspaper that generally supports Trump, published an editorial opposing his appointment, arguing that his past statements and actions made him unfit for the role. The paper wrote that there was "too much wackiness" in his record to entrust him with overseeing the nation's healthcare policies.

Read more: Trump's WHO exit threat sparks hiring freeze, budget cuts

Trump's Grip

Kennedy's confirmation battle is the latest sign of Trump's continued hold over the Republican Party. His influence has also been evident in the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, another former Democrat who only narrowly passed her committee vote. The Senate Intelligence Committee advanced Gabbard's nomination in a tight 9-8 vote, with key Republicans backing her despite longstanding concerns over her foreign policy positions and past support for pardoning Edward Snowden.

Trump's cabinet picks have been making their way through the confirmation process, with several controversial nominees already securing their posts. Doug Collins has been confirmed as Veterans Affairs Secretary, while Chris Wright, a fracking executive, has been approved to lead the Energy Department. Pam Bondi is expected to be confirmed as Attorney General, replacing Matt Gaetz, who withdrew amid allegations of drug use and sexual misconduct, claims he denies.

Kennedy's confirmation now moves to the full Senate, where his controversial background and the narrow Republican majority will make for a tense and closely watched final vote.

  • Robert F Kennedy Jr
  • RFK Jr
  • Senate
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS