Robert F. Kennedy Jr. returned to Capitol Hill Tuesday to attempt to make his case to Republican senators that he can lead the Division of Well being and Human Companies.
Additionally assembly with senators on Tuesday was Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s decide for director of nationwide intelligence. She deliberate to satisfy with two Democratic senators on the Intelligence Committee and 5 Republicans.
Kennedy, who has come underneath hearth for his opposition to vaccines and push to control farm-grown meals, didn’t instantly talk about the subjects he deliberate to convey up in his conferences, however a number of senators did share what their priorities are for the potential head of the HHS.
And a few indicated they had been able to push again on Kennedy’s stances.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Well being and Human Companies, strikes between conferences with senators within the Hart Senate Workplace Constructing on Capitol Hill on December 17, 2024 in Washington, DC.
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Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., advised reporters outdoors a Senate Judiciary Committee listening to that he didn’t agree with Kennedy on his agriculture positions and prevented commenting on his stance on abortion, however expressed optimism that Kennedy would “assist President Trump’s insurance policies” on all fronts.
“So my working assumption is he’ll keep in his lane and do HHS coverage,” Hawley mentioned, including that he helps the polio vaccine.
Kennedy’s opinion on the polio vaccine has come underneath scrutiny after reviews that his private legal professional Aaron Siri lobbied the Meals and Drug Administration to revoke its approval of the vaccine. Sources advised ABC Information that Siri has been serving to interview candidates for high well being jobs within the incoming Trump administration. Siri, a companion on the legislation agency Siri & Glimstad, has additionally filed petitions searching for to pause the distribution of different vaccines, together with Hepatitis B, and to revoke the emergency-use authorization of COVID-19 vaccines.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., was robust in his criticism of Siri.
Sen. John Cornyn meets with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for United States Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 17, 2024.
Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Sen. Kennedy, who mentioned he was “trying ahead to sitting down” with RFK Jr. with an “open thoughts,” on Tuesday urged to reporters outdoors a Senate Judiciary Committee listening to that the potential HHS secretary ought to hearth his lawyer.
“I’ve acquired a totally open thoughts, however, however that type of nonsense just isn’t useful,” Kennedy mentioned of the polio misinformation.
“I hope to have the ability to get to a place the place I can assist him enthusiastically. I am trying ahead to his affirmation hearings. We take these significantly,” the senator added.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., nevertheless, advised reporters that Kennedy is a “breath of recent air” who has his assist.
Tuberville, who has no medical background, disregarded considerations about Kennedy’s views on vaccines and claimed, with none proof or particulars, that they weren’t “100% confirmed.”
“He desires the mother and father to know the nice, the dangerous, and the ugly as a substitute of simply forcing mother and father to provide vaccines to their children,” the senator mentioned.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., mentioned he’d be assembly with Kennedy this week and appeared ahead to having discussions with him about vaccines and the agriculture trade.
Abortion, Tillis mentioned, was a “reputable query” he was going to ask Kennedy about.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Well being and Human Companies, strikes between conferences with senators within the Russell Senate Workplace Constructing on Capitol Hill, Dec. 17, 2024, in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures
“I’m persistently and unapologetically pro-life since I used to be a member of the state legislature,” Tillis mentioned.
One Senate Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois, advised reporters. he has not had any conferences with Trump’s potential nominees but however that they need to be vetted on abortion and vaccines, subjects he known as “life and demise points.” Durbin didn’t particularly point out Kennedy in his remarks.
“I feel, in all equity, we must always take the measure of those nominees primarily based on investigation, thorough FBI investigation, and what they must say on the document underneath oath, after which make last judgment,” he mentioned.
Gabbard on Tuesday mentioned she had a “nice” assembly with Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
“This has been a terrific alternative to satisfy with each Democrat and Republican senators and handle any questions or considerations that they’ve and discuss concerning the position,” she mentioned.
Requested if she felt assured she had the votes to be confirmed, Gabbard mentioned solely that she “seems to be ahead to assembly with senators as we proceed via this course of.”
Fetterman has been main the cost amongst Democrats assembly with Trump’s nominees. In a submit on X on Tuesday, he confirmed that he has met with Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s choice for United Nations ambassador, and Pete Hegseth, his secretary of protection decide.
“I imagine that it is applicable and the duty of a U.S. Senator to have a dialog with President-Elect Trump’s nominees,” Fetterman posted on on X. “My votes will come from an open-mind and an knowledgeable opinion after having a dialog with them. That is not controversial, it is my job.”
Gabbard was additionally anticipated to satisfy with Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and Republican senators Susan Collins, Dan Sullivan, Chuck Grassley, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul.
-ABC Information’ Allison Pecorin and Beatrice Peterson contributed to this report.
