Robert F. Kennedy Jr. returned to Capitol Hill for another round of confirmation hearings, and if day one was contentious, day two promised even more fireworks. As President Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kennedy has been the center of heated debates, personal attacks, and relentless questioning. But despite Democrats’ best efforts to derail his nomination, Kennedy remains on a path to confirmation—with no Republican senators voicing opposition so far.
The first hearing, before the Senate Finance Committee, was less about policy and more about personal attacks, particularly focused on Kennedy’s past vaccine skepticism. Democrats wasted no time trying to label him a conspiracy theorist, an extremist, and a danger to public health.
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) was particularly aggressive, accusing Kennedy of undermining trust in vaccines.
“Mr. Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, quacks, and charlatans,” Wyden charged. “He’s made it his life’s work to sow doubt and discourage parents from getting their kids life-saving vaccines.”
He then played a gotcha game, referencing a 2020 podcast where Kennedy said he would ‘pay anything’ to go back in time and not vaccinate his kids.
“Are you lying to Congress today when you say you are pro-vaccine? Or did you lie on all those podcasts?” Wyden demanded.
Kennedy pushed back hard, saying the statements Wyden was referencing had “been repeatedly debunked.” He insisted that he supports vaccines, citing his backing of measles and polio immunizations, and vowed:
“I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking anything.”
But the attacks kept coming.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)—a longtime acquaintance of Kennedy’s—went so far as to say, “Frankly, you frighten people.”
And Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) accused Kennedy of “peddling half-truths.”
The hostility wasn’t limited to senators. Protesters in the audience heckled Kennedy during his opening statement, with one shouting “You lie!” before being escorted out by Capitol Police. Another held a sign reading, “Vaccines Save Lives, No RFK Jr.”
At one point, Kennedy turned the tables on Democrats, pointing out that their opposition had nothing to do with science and everything to do with politics.
“Now they’re against me because anything that President Trump does, any decision he makes, has to be lampooned, derided, discredited, marginalized, vilified,” Kennedy said.
And he had a point. While Democrats were laser-focused on his past vaccine comments, they largely ignored Kennedy’s broader agenda to reform HHS—specifically his push for:
- Overhauling dietary guidelines to prioritize real nutrition
- Reforming the FDA to stop the influence of Big Pharma
- Getting to the root causes of chronic disease rather than just prescribing endless medications
These are positions that, under normal circumstances, many Democrats would support—but because Kennedy is now aligned with Trump, they suddenly find him unacceptable.
While Democrats attacked, Republicans mostly stood by Kennedy.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) leaned into the Democrats’ accusations, sarcastically asking:
“I got a real quick question for you: Are you a conspiracy theorist?”
Kennedy answered calmly, saying it was a label used to silence people who challenge powerful interests.
Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), a chemical engineer, reassured Kennedy, saying:
“We believe in science. I’m thankful that you do, too.”
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a physician, didn’t even bother questioning Kennedy on vaccines. Instead, he focused on Medicare and Medicaid reforms—a sign that Republicans are treating Kennedy like a serious nominee, not a radical outsider.
And Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) went after Democrats instead of Kennedy, saying:
“I’m disappointed with the hostility on the other side.”
While Republicans are largely on board with Kennedy, some social conservatives still have concerns about his past support for abortion rights.
During his 2024 presidential run, Kennedy said he believed in leaving abortion decisions “to the woman,” even if it was full-term. That stance made him an outlier even among moderate Republicans.
But since endorsing Trump, Kennedy has walked back that position, saying:
“I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy.”
Democrats, of course, pounced on this shift, with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) calling it a “major U-turn.”
Still, despite these concerns, no Republican senator has publicly opposed Kennedy’s nomination—a sign that even those uneasy about his abortion stance are willing to vote for him.
🚨RFK Jr. calls out Bernie Sanders direct to his face! 🔥
“Bernie, you have accepted millions of dollars from the Pharmaceutical industry. In 2020 you were the single largest receiver of Pharmaceutical dollars. $1.5M”
The crowd erupts in applause! LFG!!pic.twitter.com/ylQezDqyyY
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) January 30, 2025