RFK Jr. pulls $500M vaccine funding, speaks in Alaska
The Division of Well being and Human Providers says they may cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines which might be being created to struggle respiratory viruses. LiveNOW’s Andrew Craft has the newest updates from the USA Secretary of Well being and Human Providers.
Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he has no plans to launch a 2028 White Home bid, pushing again in opposition to hypothesis and assaults from conservative activist Laura Loomer.
“Let me be clear: I’m not operating for president in 2028. My loyalty is to President Trump and the mission we’ve began,” Kennedy stated Friday in a put up on X.
Rumors of a future run have been fueled by Loomer and strikes made by a Kennedy-aligned tremendous PAC, elevating questions on whether or not the onetime Democratic presidential candidate could be positioning himself for one more marketing campaign.
RFK Jr. says loyalty is to Trump, not a 2028 marketing campaign
The backstory:
Kennedy ran for president in 2024 as a Democrat earlier than turning into an unbiased and finally dropping out to endorse Trump. Trump later tapped him to guide HHS, aiming to harness Kennedy’s massive following within the “Make America Wholesome Once more” motion.
In his social media put up, Kennedy stated his focus stays on ending what he calls the nation’s “persistent illness epidemic” — a core MAHA precedence carried over from his marketing campaign platform.
“The president has made himself the reply to my 20-year prayer that God would put me ready to finish the persistent illness epidemic — and that’s precisely what my crew and I’ll do till the day he leaves workplace,” Kennedy wrote.
Kennedy used his put up to defend deputy chief of workers Stefanie Spear, a longtime aide who served as his marketing campaign’s principal communications staffer. Loomer has accused Spear of leveraging her HHS function to organize for a 2028 marketing campaign — a cost Kennedy dismissed.
FILE – Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Well being and Human Providers secretary, speaks on the White Home as President Donald Trump seems to be on. Kennedy on Friday denied hypothesis that he’s planning a 2028 presidential run, saying his loyalty stays with Trump. (Photograph by Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos)
Spear joined a name final month hosted by Tony Lyons, co-chair of the first tremendous PAC that backed Kennedy in 2024, Axios reported. The decision was billed as a option to mobilize grassroots supporters.
The opposite aspect:
On Tuesday, Loomer informed POLITICO she was involved about Spear’s function within the company, accusing her of plotting a Kennedy comeback bid. She beforehand led a strain marketing campaign that helped oust Vinay Prasad, a vaccine regulator on the Meals and Drug Administration, earlier than White Home Chief of Employees Susie Wiles reinstated him this week.
Kennedy didn’t identify Loomer in his put up however stated assaults on his workers are “proof we’re over the goal.”
What’s subsequent:
Whereas Kennedy has dominated out a 2028 run for now, a few of his allies look like retaining the choice open. His supporters and aligned PACs have continued organizing grassroots networks that might be tapped sooner or later.
The Supply: This report relies on info from the Related Press, POLITICO, and Axios. Extra materials was supplied by Kennedy’s social media posts and public statements.
