In a chilling statement before the U.S. Senate, Democrat Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) warned Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that he “must support mandatory vaccinations” for the general public if he wants to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Whitehouse made the statement during the Senate hearing for Kennedy’s nomination to lead President Donald Trump’s HHS.
The senator laid out a series of demands that he expected RFJ Jr. to comply with if he was to secure the votes for HHS secretary.
Whitehouse asserted that Kennedy must also recant his criticisms of vaccinations and promise “never to say vaccines aren’t medically safe.”
“Frankly, you frighten people,” Whitehouse told Kennedy.
Whitehouse was seemingly linking Kennedy’s skepticism of some vaccines to the first case of measles in Rhode Island since 2013.
The senator then continued by laying out his demands for Kenedy, saying:
“Americans are going to need to hear a clear and trustworthy recantation of what you have said on vaccinations, including a promise from you never to say vaccines aren’t medically safe when they, in fact, are, and making indisputably clear that you support mandatory vaccinations against diseases where that will keep people safe.
“You’re in that hole pretty deep.”
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Whitehouse attended law school with Kennedy where the two were friends.
However, the senator made it clear that their friendship is now in the past as he used the majority of his time to list concerns about Kennedy.
The senator only allows RFK Jr. a small window at the end to address the line of questioning.
Whitehouse’s comments quickly drew criticism from conservatives on social media.
In a post on X, Daily Signal columnist Tony Kinnett said:
“Sen. Whitehouse (D-RI) beginning his confirmation ‘questioning’ of RFK Jr. by saying ‘I’m very experienced, so you’re just going to have to listen,’ then talking for 7 minutes nonstop is such a perfect picture of why Democrats are failing around the nation right now.”
“You know what would be good?” columnist John Podhortez posted on X.
“Sheldon Whitehouse going away forever to an island.
“And not Rhode Island, which isn’t an island. More like St. Helena.”
National Review senior writer Dan McLaughlin stated:
“Whitehouse delivers a droning monologue then tells RFK he’s out of time, can respond in writing.”
“What a jacka–,” Twitchy.com editor Samantha Janney posted on X.
“RFK Jr. should ask Sheldon about his membership at multiple whites-only clubs.”
Opposition to Kennedy’s nomination has been fierce.
Pro-vax groups have been running ad campaigns urging senators to vote against his confirmation mainly due to his past skepticism of some vaccines.
In his opening statement in front of the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy said:
“I want to make sure the Committee is clear about a few things.
“News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry.
“Well, I am neither; I am pro-safety.”
When the bad guys oppose someone so aggressively, it can only mean they are the right person for the job.
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