Robert Kennedy Jr. was confirmed by the Senate to lead the Ministry of Health and Human Services, despite liberal protests on its qualifications and earlier anti-vaccine comments.
It came after a sizzling confirmation process that even some Republicans was wary – but with the support of President Donald Trump he received enough voices to be confirmed 52-48.
For a long time Trump -Vijand Senator Mitch McConnell, 82, was the only Republican who voted against RFK Jr. He also voted 'No' on Tulsi Gabbard for director of National Intelligence and Pete Hegseeth for Pentagon Chief.
Trump tapped the 70-year-old former Democrat to be the best health officer in the country with the mandate to 'make America healthy again'.
But Kennedy was put under the microscope prior to the vote for his former controversial views on vaccinations, abortion and for promoting conspiracy theories.
The mood came after Kennedy had cleaned up a procedural obstacle on Wednesday, where senators voted directly past party lines to promote his nomination.
But his entire confirmation path was rocky when the nominee was confronted with pushback from Democrats who accused him of being anti-vaccine and anti-science.
Some members of his famous Kennedy family also came across his confirmation with destructive attacks on his character.
But Kennedy and Trump made a relationship that paid off after the one -off Democratic and then independent presidential candidate stopped the presidential race of 2024 and endors Trump last summer.
Trump called his one -off critic his choice to become the best health officer in the country, just a few days after the November elections.
Robert Kennedy Jr. testifies to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on January 30
McConnell spoke to Kennedy on Thursday, where he has performed his own experience with a vaccine-behavioral disease and said that Kennedy could not prove that he is the best possible person who led America's greatest health agency. '
“I am a survivor of Kinderpolio. In my life I have seen vaccines that save millions of lives from devastating diseases throughout America and all over the world, “said the former Republican senate leader. “I will not approve the reimbursement of proven healings, and millions of Americans who do not experience their survival and quality of life in scientific miracles.”
'Individuals, parents and families have the right to insist on a healthier nation and to demand the best possible scientific guidance in preventing and treating diseases. But a record of human trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and the eroding of trust in public health institutions does not have the right to lead these important efforts, “he went further.
In the run -up to Thursday's mood, several other Republican senators had still not shared their plans, but in the end every other Gop member came to Kennedy.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced on Wednesday afternoon that she would support him with a long-term statement in which she noticed that the US is spending more health care per head of the population than other countries, but without better health results.
'Instead of concentrating on who covers our exorbitant healthcare costs, we must lower these costs by focusing our attention on prevention and keeping people healthy, “she said. “This is the attraction of RFK, and many Alaskans have shared that image with me.”
Murkowski said she is still worried about the views of Kennedy about vaccines and his'Selective interpretation of scientific studies, which initially caused my doubts about his nomination. '
She said that Kennedy has done 'countless obligations' to her and colleagues who promise to work with the congress to guarantee public access to information and base recommendations of vaccine on data-driven, evidence-based and medical healthy research. '
Kennedy with his wife Cheryl Hines arrives on January 29 for his confirmation hearing for the Senate Financing Committee
Senator Mitch McConnell (shown on January 12) was the only Republican who voted against the confirmation of RFK Jr. He said that the nominated “best possible person to lead the largest health agency in America” in a statement
Senator Bill Cassidy, a doctor, was very concerned about the ever -changing position of Kennedy about vaccines, but in the end he voted to promote the candidate from the committee and confirm him in the entire senate voice
Kennedy needed the support of every Republican in the Senate Finance Committee for his appointment to leave the committee last week.
The nomination hardly squeaked with every Republican voted to promote his nomination while every democrat voted against it.
Senator Bill Cassidy, a doctor, was very concerned about the ever-changing position of Kennedy about vaccines, but in the end he was convinced by Kennedy and Maga allies to support the well-known vacceptic.
'Mr. Kennedy and the administration have committed that he and I would have an unprecedented, close, cooperation work relationship if he was confirmed, “Cassidy said on the Senate floor after promoting his nomination.
'We will meet or speak to each other several times a month. With this collaboration we can work well and therefore be more effective, “Cassidy claimed.
President Donald Trump Robert Kennedy Jr. squeaked through to promote his nomination for secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services
Anti-Kernedy demonstrators on January 29 with signs outside UCLA on the day as his confirmation hearing
Kennedy is confronted with two brutal mounting hearings last month Capitol Hill.
The first was for the Senate Financing Committee, where legislators built up his earlier anti-vaccine work, and he was closed by Democrats for promoting conspiracy theories.
Senators also raised questions about how he would deal with Medicare and Medicaid and expressed their concern after he seemed to be confusing the most important details about the programs.
Some Republican senators also insisted on reassuring his position on abortion after the former Democrat said earlier that he was pro-abortion rights and the course completely reversed after throwing his support behind Trump.
Kennedy assured Republicans that he would leave the issue of abortic access to states and follow Trump's leadership.
A day later, Kennedy went for a second hearing for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (Help) Committee.
In both hearings, Kennedy insisted that he was pro-vaccine and pro-science and would follow the data.
But some legislators were not convinced because Kennedy refused to declare that the data was already there and had room for doubt.
Cassidy, chairman of the auxiliary committee, grilled Kennedy about his position on vaccines and pressed him to deny that there was a connection between vaccines and autism, but Kennedy would not say it unambiguously.
At the end of the hearing, the senator said that he 'struggled' with Kennedy's about his statements from the past who undermined confidence in children's vaccines.
Kennedy was not the only controversial nominee of Trump to confirm this week in the Senate.
Former Congressman Tulsi Gabbard was also confirmed as director of National Intelligence with a vote 52 to 48.
Every Democrat voted against her confirmation together with Senator Mitch McConnell, who was the only Republican who voted 'no'.
