"I’m glad I got my flu and Covid vaccines in time” — Internet reacts as Trump selects anti-vax activist RFK Jr. as Health Secretary

After defeating Kamala Harris in the race to become the next President of the United States of America, Donald Trump has now appointed anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy Jr as the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Department (HHD). Announcing the same on Truth Social on November 14, 2024, Donald Trump said:

"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.”

The incoming President continued:

“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!"

While the announcement did not come as a surprise as Trump had already declared that RFK Jr. would have a prominent role in his administration, however, many netizens poured in their reactions as soon as the news came in. An X user, @PopBase shared a post about the same on the platform, and a netizen commented:

“Phew, I’m glad I got my flu and Covid vaccines in time.”

Social media users started talking about how RFK Jr. has been in the news opposing vaccines, and hence, many commented:

“We’re all gonna have no teeth in 4 years,” wrote an X user.

“This is like selecting OJ Simpson for the Department of Safety,” added another.

“An anti vaxer running Health and Human Services,” commented another netizen on the post.

Many others also criticized the decision and wrote on X:

“Who wouldn't trust him with their health,” exclaimed one social media user.

“We are screwed,” said another X user.

“I thought this was a joke,” mentioned another person.

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“President Trump has given me three instructions”—RFK Jr. elaborated on his discussion with incoming President before he announced his decision

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a Turning Point Action rally in Duluth, GA (Image via Getty/Jabin Botsford)

While social media users continue to share their reactions and opinions on Trump making RFK Jr. the Secretary of Health, Trump is hopeful that his decision will bring good to the country. He said in his statement on Truth Social about how the HHS will be playing a significant role when it comes to protecting the masses against “harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives.”

Furthermore, RFK Jr. also spoke to NPR before Donald declared his choice, and added:

"President Trump has given me three instructions: He wants the corruption and the conflicts out of the regulatory agencies. He wants to return the agencies to the gold standard of empirically based, evidence-based science and medicine that they were once famous for."

Robert F Kennedy Jr. continued:

"And he wants to end the chronic disease epidemic with measurable impacts on a diminishment of chronic disease within two years."

As reported by Forbes, these sceptical reactions of the masses came after RFK Jr. made constant claims about Wi-Fi causing cancer, chemicals in water leading to kids becoming transgenders, and vaccines being the reasons for autism and many other conditions.

Furthermore, CNN Business reported that as soon as the incoming President announced RFK Jr. as the secretary of the Health Department, shares of many vaccine companies dropped drastically. German company BioNTech closed 7% lower, while the British company, GSK fell by 2%.

On the other hand, Donald also announced other nominations on Thursday, November 14, 2024. He named the former Georgia Congressman Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Todd Blanche, Trump’s defense lawyer, was named the Deputy Attorney General.

Dean John Sauer was given the responsibility for supervising and conducting government litigation in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Jay Clayton was selected as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York.