RFK Jr. meets with more GOP senators amid concerns about his polio vaccine views

[ad_1] 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 choose for director of nationwide intelligence. She deliberate to satisfy with two Democratic senators on the Intelligence Committee and 5 Republicans.

Kennedy, who has come beneath fireplace for his opposition to vaccines and push to control farm-grown meals, didn't instantly focus on 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., informed reporters exterior a Senate Judiciary Committee listening to that he didn't agree with Kennedy on his agriculture positions and averted commenting on his stance on abortion, however expressed optimism that Kennedy would "help 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 beneath scrutiny after studies that his private lawyer Aaron Siri lobbied the Meals and Drug Administration to revoke its approval of the vaccine. Sources informed ABC Information that Siri has been serving to interview candidates for high well being jobs within the incoming Trump administration. Siri, a associate on the regulation agency Siri & Glimstad, has additionally filed petitions looking for to pause the distribution of different vaccines, together with Hepatitis B, and to revoke the emergency-use authorization of COVID-19 vaccines.

Requested by ABC Information if he deliberate to satisfy with outgoing Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, Kennedy replied, "I hope so," as he left a gathering with Wyoming Republican John Barroso. McConnell, a polio survivor, criticized Siri's efforts to revoke the polio vaccine approval.

Kennedy additionally informed reporters he would "in all probability" meet with Democratic senators when he returns to Capitol Hill in January, although he mentioned he wasn't but positive which of them.

Barroso mentioned after his assembly that his "understanding" was that Kennedy is "for the polio vaccine, supportive of it."

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., was additionally vital 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.

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Sen. Kennedy, who mentioned he was "wanting ahead to sitting down" with RFK Jr. with an "open thoughts," steered to reporters exterior a Senate Judiciary Committee listening to that the attainable HHS secretary ought to fireplace his lawyer.

"I've obtained a totally open thoughts, however, however that form of nonsense shouldn't be useful," Kennedy mentioned of the polio misinformation.

"I hope to have the ability to get to a place the place I can help him enthusiastically. I am wanting ahead to his affirmation hearings. We take these significantly," the senator added.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., nonetheless, informed reporters that Kennedy is a "breath of contemporary air" who has his help.

Tuberville, who has no medical background, dismissed considerations about Kennedy's views on vaccines and claimed, with none proof or particulars, that they weren't "100% confirmed."

"He needs the mother and father to grasp the nice, the dangerous, and the ugly as an alternative of simply forcing mother and father to offer vaccines to their children," the senator mentioned.

Trump informed reporters Monday that he was massive believer in polio vaccine and vowed that it it was right here to remain. He did, nonetheless, say he questioned vaccine mandates.

Kennedy informed reporters Monday that "he was all for the polio vaccine."

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., mentioned he'd be assembly with Kennedy this week and seemed ahead to having discussions with him about vaccines and the agriculture trade.

Abortion, Tillis mentioned, was a "legit 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.

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"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, informed 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 dying points." Durbin didn't particularly point out Kennedy in his remarks.

"I believe, in all equity, we must always take the measure of those nominees primarily based on investigation, thorough FBI investigation, and what they should say on the report beneath oath, after which make ultimate judgment," he mentioned.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren D-Mass additionally expressed her disapproval of Kennedy, citing his anti-vaccine campaigns.

"Do you really need him to steer the Division of Well being and Human Companies?," she requested.

Gabbard meets with Intelligence Committee Democrats Gabbard on Tuesday mentioned she had a "nice" assembly with Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.

"This has been an amazing alternative to satisfy with each Democrat and Republican senators and deal with any questions or considerations that they've and speak concerning the function," she mentioned.

Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for director of nationwide intelligence and Robert Kennedy Jr., nominee to run the Division of Well being and Human Companies, go to Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 17, 2024.

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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 by this course of."

Fetterman has been main the cost amongst Democrats assembly with Trump's nominees. In a publish 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 choose.

"I imagine that it is acceptable and the accountability 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.