Trump administration profile: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

By Indy Scholtens

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President Donald Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr.to lead the Department of Health and Human Services on Nov. 14, 2024. Kennedy, 71, ran for president last cycle, initially as a Democratic challenger to Joe Biden, but switched to run as an independent in October 2023. He suspended his campaign on Aug. 23, 2024, and endorsed Trump. 

Who is he?

Kennedy comes from political royalty: His father, Robert F. Kennedy Sr., was U.S. attorney general and a senator from New York. His uncle was President John F. Kennedy. After being arrested and convicted for heroin possession in 1983, RFK Jr. found his calling while fulfilling court-mandated community service by volunteering at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental legal advocacy group. He went on to become a prominent environmental lawyer. 

In the last two decades, Kennedy has become a vocal vaccine critic, spreading unfounded theories about vaccines causing autism. During the COVID pandemic, he petitioned the Food and Drug Adminstration to revoke the vaccine. 

Kennedy began two days of Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday, where he faced fierce questioning. But the opposition to his nomination is not confined to the Democratic Party. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s advocacy group Advancing American Freedom wrote a letter to 53 Republicans urging them to reject the nomination. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) wrote a letter to Kennedy containing 175 questions, saying she had “serious concerns” given his “dangerous views on vaccine safety and public health.” Kennedy said repeatedly during the hearing that he is not anti-vaccine and that all of his children are vaccinated. 

Kennedy has said his goal is to “Make America Healthy Again” by lowering drug prices, limiting the use of pesticides, reintroducing a presidential fitness test and putting restrictions on processed food. “I’m going to let him go wild on health, I’m going to let him go wild on food,” Trump said during a speech at Madison Square Garden in October. 

Follow the money:

• Kennedy’s family has a long legacy in Democratic politics, and he previously donated to Democratic candidates, such as Gretchen Whitmer during her 2020 campaign for governor of Michigan. His largest contribution — $3,000 — went to John Sampson, a New York state senator who was later convicted for obstruction of justice. Kennedy’s family called his support for Trump a “betrayal.” 
• Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign raised $62.5 million, and outside groups supporting his candidacy raised an additional $40.1 million. (This total represents the net amount given and takes into account that Team America refunded $13.65 million to Gavin de Becker.)
• The primary super PAC supporting Kennedy, Team America, was supported by $14 million in contributions from de Becker, a celebrity bodyguard and vaccine skeptic, although all but $350,000 of that was refunded to him. De Becker referred to the unusual arrangement as “bridge funding” for the super PAC. In another unusual situation, billionaire Trump supporter and mega donor, Timothy Mellondonated $25 million to Team America. Mellon ended up as one of Trump’s top supporters in 2024, contributing $150 million to the pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great Again. 
• Planeta Management LLC, the company led by Kennedy’s running-mate Nicole Shanahan, donated $4.5 million to Kennedy-supporting super PACs. Shanahan herself made nearly $17 million in candidate contributions to the Kennedy campaign account. Shanahan is a lawyer and the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
• Leila Centner contributed $1 million to Team America. She is the co-founder of the Centner Academy, a private K-12 school in Miami that promotes its anti-vaccine policies and has hosted Kennedy. 

This article originally appeared in Open Secrets on January 29th, 2025

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