Trump’s candidate for the Minister of Health of RFK JR survives tumultuous hearing ahead of key votes to confirm

The flammable burn Senate confirmation hearing are done.

But Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump Nominated for the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Department (HHS), he still faces a key committee and complete votes to confirm the Senate in his mission to run 18 powerful federal agencies that oversee the food and health of the nation.

Testifying before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday and the Health Center on Thursday, the Skeptic and Crusade for the Environment, which ran for the White House in 2024 before ending his offer and supported Trump, faced with many verbal fireworks during the past controversial comments.

While most of the difficult questions and sparring about his attitudes about vaccines, abortions, Medicaid and other issues, came from Democrats in two committees on Thursday ended up with a top Republican on a health care panel, saying that he “struggled” with Kennedy’s nomination.

RFK’s affirmative service quickly leaves from the rails

“Your past of undermining trust in vaccines with unfounded or wrong arguments concerns me,” GOP Senator Bill Cassidy said the candidate.

A doctor from Louisiana, who is a key vote and who expressed concern about Kennedy’s past attitude about vaccines, asked if Kennedy could “believe that he supported the best public health.”

And the Senator said to Kennedy, who seeks to run key health agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and Disease, the Directorate of Food and Medicines, the National Institutes of Health and Medicare and Medicaid Services Centers, to “hear from me over the weekend.”

Here you head for the latest Fox News reporting for the first 100 days of President Trump in the White House

Kennedy faced two days of baking because of his controversial past comments, including his repeated claims in recent years Connection of vaccines autism, which revealed scientific research.

And Democrats have also seen Kennedy’s service as a chairman or chief legal health defense counselor, a non -profit organization he founded, who has repeatedly advocated the vaccine and sued the federal government, including the challenge for authorization Covid vaccine for children.

One of the most demanding exchange on Thursday came as independent Senator Bernie Sanders Vermont pushed Kennedy over his past connection with autism vaccine.

Sanders stated that “vaccines do not cause autism” and asked Kennedy “Do you agree with that?”

After the nominee did not answer, Sanders replied, “I asked you a simple question, Bobby.”

Kennedy replied, “Senator, if you show me these studies, I will absolutely … apologize.”

“It’s a very worrying answer because the studies are there. Your job was to view these studies as a applicant for this job,” Sanders said.

Later, at the hearing, the two also clashed for political contributions to the pharmaceutical industry, and Kennedy only mentioned “Bernie” at Sanders.

“Almost all members of this panel, including you, accept millions of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry and protect their interests,” Kennedy said.

Sanders immediately pushed himself away, “I ran as president like you. I got millions and millions of contributions. They did not arrive from the executives, no nickel Pac [political action committee] money from pharmaceutical [companies]. They came from the workers. “

Another fiery moment came as Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire appeared to return with tears as she noticed her son’s struggle with cerebral palsy in the midst of allegations that “partisanism” lagged behind the mixed issues of Democrat Kennedy.

Hassan, who accused Kennedy at hearing on Wednesday of “selling” Trump, changing his position on an abortion on Thursday, accused the candidate of “religion of a populated science”.

But many Republicans on the panel came in defense of Kennedy, including conservative senator Randa Paul.

The Kentucky ophthalmologist defended Kennedy and aimed at comments about vaccines that do not cause autism.

“We do not know what causes autism, so we should be more humble,” Paul said to applaud Kennedy’s supporter in the audience of the Committee carrying “makeup magazine healthy.”

71-year-old Kennedy, Scion from the most challenging political dynasty in the country, launched a long-lasting campaign for the presidential nomination of Democrats against President Joe Biden in April 2023, but six months later, he moved to an independent running for the White House.

Kennedy gave the main titles again last August when he gave up on the presidential offer and supported Trump. While Kennedy has long identified himself as a Democrat and repeatedly referred to his late father, former senator Robert F. Kennedy and his late Uncle, former President John F. Kennedy – who were both killed in 1960 – Kennedy has built ties in recent years with this extreme right leaders partly because of its high skepticism of the vaccine.

Shortly after the election in November, Trump announced that Kennedy would nominate in his HHS guide cabinet.

Kennedy, whose open views Great farm And the food industry also caused controversy, he said he wanted to move the focus of agencies that would monitor the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, including the overhaul of food guidelines, aiming for ultra -treated foods and reacing the root causes of chronic disease.

“Our state will not be destroyed because we misunderstand the boundary tax rate. It will be destroyed if we make this issue wrong,” Kenendy said on Thursday as she pointed to chronic diseases. “And I’m in a unique position so I can stop this epidemic.”

The Finance Committee, which will decide whether Kennedy’s nomination will be sent to the entire Senate, has yet to be scheduled for a certificate vote.

Because Republicans control the Senate of most 53-47, Kennedy can only afford to lose the support of three GOP senators if Democrats unite against his certificate.

And besides Cassidy, two other Republicans from the Health Committee – Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska – are potential “no” voices about Kennedy.

Click here to get the Fox News app

Collins questioned Kennedy on Thursday about vaccines, herd immunity as well as his views of Lyme’s disease. Knendy advocated that there is no “anyone who will harder to fight to treat Lyme’s disease.”

50-50 votes throughout Senate would force Vice-President JD Vance to serve as a midfielder to encourage Kennedy’s nomination to the top, as the vice-president did so last week with a confirmation of the second controversial candidate, now secretary of Pete Hegseth, now Defense of the Fifth Hegsetth.