Caroline Kennedy, cousin of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, has urged US senators to reject his nomination as the country’s next health and human services secretary, calling him a “predator” in a scathing letter released on Tuesday. Her statement, shared on social media, was sent ahead of RFK Jr’s confirmation hearing on Wednesday, which is expected to be contentious. "I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together," she wrote. "It's no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator." Caroline Kennedy argued that her cousin’s stance on vaccines makes him unfit to be one of America’s leading health policymakers. RFK Jr has yet to respond to her remarks. Concerns over RFK Jr’s health policies In a video and written letter sent to senators, Caroline Kennedy said she felt compelled to speak out due to concerns over the influence RFK Jr could wield in a potential Trump administration. Trump, on the other hand, has defended his nominee, stating that he will "make America great and healthy again" by restoring the country’s health agencies to "the traditions of gold-standard scientific research." Ambassador Caroline Kennedy’s statement to the US Senate on RFKJr’s nomination for HHS Secretary This is a reading of a letter she just sent to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions I’m so proud of my courageous mother, who’s lived a life of dignity,… pic.twitter.com/feysNA0Wwp — Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) January 28, 2025 If confirmed, RFK Jr would oversee key agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which employs around 18,000 people. "He lacks any relevant government, financial, management, or medical experience," Caroline Kennedy argued. "His views on vaccines are dangerous and wilfully misinformed." RFK Jr has long been a vaccine sceptic, falsely linking vaccinations to autism. However, he has recently insisted that vaccines will "not be taken away from anybody" and claims his goal is to improve vaccine safety. Allegations of hypocrisy and past misconduct Caroline Kennedy further alleged that RFK Jr preys on the fears of parents with sick children, stating that while he vaccinated his own children, he “hypocritically discouraged other parents from vaccinating theirs.” RFK Jr has previously admitted that he regrets vaccinating his children, once stating he would “pay anything” to undo it. Additionally, she raised concerns about his "personal qualities," accusing him of encouraging substance abuse among family members. RFK Jr has been open about his past drug addiction, including heroin use, and pleaded guilty to bringing heroin onto a plane in 1984. Her letter also included historical allegations of animal cruelty, claiming that RFK Jr used to show off by blending live baby chickens and mice to feed his pet hawks. Caroline Kennedy, a former US ambassador to Australia and Japan, concluded by stating that both her father, President John F. Kennedy, and her uncle, Robert Kennedy, would be "disgusted" by her cousin’s actions. RFK Jr initially ran as an independent in the 2024 presidential race before suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump.
