Trump announced his pick for the cabinet position on Truth Social, his social network, on Thursday afternoon, saying he was “thrilled” to nominate Kennedy to lead the department.
“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump wrote.
“Mr Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!”
Kennedy has steadfastly denied all charges of antisemitism, including in an appearance before Congress.
In July, he spoke at an event hosted by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, the author and conservative activist.
Kennedy is ardently pro-Israel — his father Robert F Kennedy was murdered amid the 1968 Democratic presidential primaries by a Palestinian from Jordan over his support of Israel — and recently defended Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the late leader of the Chabad Chasidic movement, in the face of attacks by far-right commentator Candace Owens.
