During a significant exchange on Wednesday, January 29, at his confirmation hearing before the United States Senate regarding his appointment by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decisively countered the criticisms of far-left Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).
The confrontation arose when Senator Masto inquired whether Mr. Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAGA) initiative was his sole motivation for seeking the HHS position. Mr. Kennedy effectively dismantled her argument, prompting applause from the audience present at the hearing.
In her attempt to challenge Mr. Kennedy, Senator Masto accused him of merely echoing the Trump administration’s views, questioning, “You keep citing the Trump administration, and you’re just going to follow what they say? Is that what you’re doing? You’re just a rubber stamp for them in this position?”
Undeterred, the senator pressed further, questioning whether he would abandon his principles to align with Trump and how he could effectively tackle issues if he did so. She asserted, “So it doesn’t matter that you’re before us; it could be anybody coming before us, as long as they’re a rubber stamp for this administration and disregarding your beliefs and what you think?”
Mr. Kennedy remained resolute in the face of these accusations. Defending his agenda and his association with the Trump Administration, he stated that he intends to leverage his role to combat chronic diseases and their underlying causes to improve the health of Americans. He remarked, “President Trump has asked me to end the chronic disease epidemic and make America healthy again,” which elicited enthusiastic applause from the audience.
In a perplexing turn, Senator Masto attempted to frame Mr. Kennedy’s commitment to enhancing public health as a negative aspect, chastising him for prioritizing it as a measure of success in his role at HHS. She questioned, “So is that the only reason why you’re at HHS? Is that the only reason why then you’re at the HHS, to address…”
Mr. Kennedy once again stood firm in the face of criticism. Addressing the unusual nature of the attacks directed at him, he asserted that he occupies a “unique position” to tackle these challenges, as requested by the president. He stated, “Trump has asked me to take action, given my unique position, and that is precisely what I am doing.”
He further underscored the magnitude and severity of the issue, remarking, “If we fail to address this problem, senator, all our discussions regarding payment responsibilities—whether they involve insurance companies, healthcare providers, HMOs, patients, or families—are merely rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Our ship is sinking.”
Expanding on this point, Mr. Kennedy noted, “The 60 percent increase in Medicaid over the past four years represents the largest budget item and is growing at an unprecedented rate. No other nation faces the chronic disease challenges that we do. We bear the highest burden of chronic diseases globally.”
He continued, “Our death toll has surpassed that of any other country. When the CDC was questioned about this, they attributed it to the fact that Americans are among the unhealthiest populations on the planet. The average American who succumbed to COVID-19 had 3.8 chronic conditions.” He characterized this situation as an “existential threat” to our economy, military, health, and overall well-being. He concluded by stating, “This is a priority for President Trump, which is why he has asked me to lead the agency, and if I am fortunate enough to be confirmed, I will fulfill that responsibility.”
