Major Controversies Surrounding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: A Detailed Timeline
Public opinion and media debates around Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—discover key moments of controversy.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an American politician, environmental lawyer, author, conspiracy theorist, and anti-vaccine activist. A member of the Kennedy family, he is the son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of John F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. He has served as the 26th United States secretary of health and human services since 2025.
1953: Kennedy denounces U.S.-backed coup in Iran
In 1953, Kennedy denounced the operations of former CIA director Allen Dulles, condemning U.S.-backed coups and interventions such as the 1953 Iranian coup d'état as "bloodthirsty", and blamed U.S. interventions for the rise of terrorist organizations and anti-American sentiment.
1975: Martha Moxley Murder
In 2003, Kennedy published an article in The Atlantic Monthly about the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley, insisting that his cousin Michael Skakel's indictment was triggered by an inflamed media.
1980: Republican Party Hostility
In 2020, Kennedy mentioned that since 1980, the Republican party has displayed a growing hostility towards the environment.
June 1981: Kennedy speaks at anti-nuclear rally at the Hollywood Bowl
In June 1981, Kennedy spoke at an anti-nuclear rally at the Hollywood Bowl with musicians Stephen Stills, Bonnie Raitt, and Jackson Browne.
September 16, 1983: Charged with Heroin Possession
On September 16, 1983, Kennedy was charged with heroin possession in Rapid City, South Dakota.
February 1984: Guilty Plea and Sentencing for Heroin Possession
In February 1984, Kennedy pleaded guilty to a single felony charge of possession of heroin and was sentenced to two years of probation and community service.
1989: Vaccine Claim
In 1989, Kennedy wrote the foreword to The Peanut Allergy Epidemic, in which he and the authors falsely link increasing food allergies in children to certain vaccines that were approved.
1993: Dispute Over Indigenous Rights in Ecuador
In 1993, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and NRDC clashed with other American environmental groups in a dispute about the rights of Indians to govern their own lands in the Oriente region of Ecuador. Kennedy represented CONFENIAE in negotiation with Conoco to limit oil development and obtain benefits for Amazonian tribes, and criticized Texaco for its pollution record in the Ecuadoran Amazon.
1995: Kennedy declared persona non grata in Alberta
In 1995, Premier Ralph Klein of Alberta declared Kennedy persona non grata in the province due to his activism against Alberta's large-scale hog production facilities.
1995: William Wegner Conviction
In 1995, William Wegner was convicted for tax fraud, perjury, and conspiracy to violate wildlife protection laws.
2000: Rehiring of William Wegner at Riverkeeper
In 2000, Kennedy insisted on rehiring William Wegner, a wildlife lecturer and falcon trainer who had been convicted of environmental crimes, leading to resignations from Riverkeeper's board.
November 11, 2001: Raccoon Incident Diary Entry
According to Isabel Vincent's 2026 book, in Kennedy's diary entry on November 11, 2001, he wrote about cutting the penis off a road-killed raccoon to "study them later."
2001: Kennedy's Journal
Before her death, Mary Richardson discovered Kennedy's personal journal from 2001, which contained records of sexual encounters with 37 different women.
2001: Sued US Navy over Vieques Bombing
In 2001, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sued the US Navy on behalf of fishermen and residents of Vieques, Puerto Rico, to stop weapons testing, bombing, and other military exercises. He argued the activities were unnecessary, destroyed endangered species, polluted the island's waters, harmed residents' health, and damaged its economy. He was arrested for trespassing and served 30 days in a maximum security prison.
2002: Smithfield Foods sues Kennedy in Poland
In 2002, Smithfield Foods sued Kennedy in Poland under a Polish law that makes criticizing a corporation illegal, after he denounced the company in a debate with Smithfield's Polish director before the Polish parliament.
2003: Article on Martha Moxley Murder
In 2003, Kennedy published an article in The Atlantic Monthly arguing for Michael Skakel's innocence in the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley, suggesting Kenneth Littleton was the real killer.
2003: Accusation of US Government as "America's biggest polluter"
In 2003, in an article for the Chicago Tribune, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called the US federal government "America's biggest polluter" and the US Department of Defense the worst offender, citing EPA data on unexploded ordnance waste and potential biological or chemical weapons.
2004: Endorsement of John Kerry and Election Fraud Allegations
In 2004, Kennedy endorsed John Kerry for president. After Kerry's loss to George W. Bush, Kennedy wrote an article for Rolling Stone falsely claiming election results were fraudulent.
2004: Disputed 2004 Presidential Election
In June 2006, Kennedy wrote an article in Rolling Stone claiming that the 2004 presidential election was stolen for President George W. Bush.
June 2005: Publication of "Deadly Immunity" article
In June 2005, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. published "Deadly Immunity" in Rolling Stone and Salon.com, alleging a government conspiracy to hide a link between thimerosal and childhood neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. The article contained factual inaccuracies, leading to corrections from Salon.com.
July 14, 2005: "Deadly Immunity" Article Published
On July 14, 2005, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s article "Deadly Immunity", which defends controversial allegations that thimerosal-containing vaccines cause autism, appeared in Rolling Stone and on Salon.com.
2005: Opposition to Cape Wind Project
In 2005, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. clashed with national environmental groups over his opposition to the Cape Wind Project, a proposed offshore wind farm in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He sided with the commercial fishing industry, arguing the project was a costly boondoggle, drawing criticism from environmentalists, Rush Limbaugh, and John Stossel.
2005: Promotion of Vaccine Misinformation
Since 2005, Kennedy has promoted vaccine misinformation and public-health conspiracy theories, drawing criticism for fueling vaccine hesitancy.
June 2006: Rolling Stone Article on 2004 Election
In June 2006, Kennedy published an article in Rolling Stone alleging that GOP operatives stole the 2004 presidential election for George W. Bush, a claim widely regarded as a conspiracy theory.
2010: Dog Carcass Photo Taken
In 2010, a photo of Kennedy holding a charred animal carcass was taken and later surfaced in July 2024 in a Vanity Fair story, leading to a controversy about whether he ate dog meat.
2010: Atrazine Study
In a June 2023 podcast interview, Kennedy cited a 2010 study about atrazine and its effects on frogs.
2011: Salon.com Retracts "Deadly Immunity" Article
In 2011, Salon.com fully retracted Kennedy's "Deadly Immunity" article due to accumulating evidence of errors and potential scientific fraud related to vaccine-autism claims. A corrected version was published on Rolling Stone's website.
2012: Whale Head Incident
In 2012, Kennedy's daughter Kathleen recounted in a Town & Country magazine profile how Kennedy used a chainsaw to sever the head of a dead beached whale in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, strapped it to their minivan, and drove it home. They covered their heads with plastic bags due to the smell, and other drivers reacted negatively.
2012: Divorce Court Deposition
In 2012, during a divorce court deposition, Kennedy attributed his neurological issues to a worm in his brain and mercury poisoning from tuna consumption.
February 2013: Kennedy arrested protesting Keystone XL Pipeline
In February 2013, Kennedy and his son, Conor, were arrested for blocking a thoroughfare in front of the White House while protesting the Keystone XL Pipeline.
May 2013: Keynote address at AutismOne / Generation Rescue conference
In May 2013, Kennedy delivered the keynote address at the anti-vaccination AutismOne / Generation Rescue conference.
October 2014: Dead Bear in Central Park Incident
In October 2014, Kennedy placed a dead six-month-old bear in Central Park, initially planning to skin it for meat after it was hit by a car. He ultimately abandoned the carcass and positioned it to look as if it had been struck by a cyclist, causing a local news spectacle. A necropsy later determined the bear died from "blunt force injuries consistent with a motor vehicle collision".
2014: Kennedy claims 2014 Ukrainian revolution was coup sponsored by US
In 2014, Kennedy said the 2014 Ukrainian revolution was an attempted coup sponsored by the U.S. against the Ukrainian government, and that the Ukrainian government committed atrocities against the Russian population in Donbas.
2014: Publication of "Thimerosal: Let the Science Speak"
In 2014, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s book, "Thimerosal: Let the Science Speak: The Evidence Supporting the Immediate Removal of Mercury – a Known Neurotoxin – from Vaccines", was published, advocating for the removal of thimerosal from vaccines.
2014: People's Climate March Speech
In 2014, during the People's Climate March, Kennedy spoke about the Koch brothers and their financial contributions to stopping climate legislation, emphasizing the need for "people power" to counter their influence.
April 2015: Kennedy Promotes Film Trace Amounts, Makes Controversial Statement
In April 2015, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. participated in a Speakers' Forum to promote the film "Trace Amounts" and referred to the increased diagnosis of cases of autism as a "holocaust", drawing heavy criticism.
2015: Danish study
In 2015, Kennedy cited a Danish study, to allege a link between autism and circumcision.
2015: Kennedy expresses desire to punish climate change skeptics
In 2015, Kennedy stated in an interview that he "wished there were a law you could punish them under", referring to politicians skeptical of global warming.
2015: Kennedy Meets with Farrakhan
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Louis Farrakhan in 2015.
August 2016: Kennedy protests Dakota Access pipeline
In August 2016, Kennedy and Waterkeepers participated in protests to block the extension of the Dakota Access pipeline across the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation's water supply.
2016: Criticism of Donald Trump and Supporters
In 2016, Kennedy described Donald Trump's supporters as "belligerent idiots" and suggested some were "outright Nazis." He also called Trump a "bully" and a "threat to democracy," comparing him to Adolf Hitler and George Wallace.
2016: Release of 'Framed'
In 2016, Kennedy released the book Framed: Why Michael Skakel Spent over a Decade in Prison for a Murder He Didn't Commit, further arguing for Skakel's innocence in the Martha Moxley murder case.
February 15, 2017: Press conference with Robert De Niro
On February 15, 2017, Kennedy and Robert De Niro held a press conference in Washington, D.C., alleging that the press favored the vaccination industry and restricted debates on vaccine science. They offered a $100,000 reward for a study proving the safety of injecting mercury into babies and pregnant women at levels in flu vaccines.
December 2017: Meeting with Sirhan Sirhan and Call for Reinvestigation
In December 2017, Kennedy visited Sirhan Sirhan at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility and afterwards voiced his support for a reinvestigation of his father's assassination, based on eyewitness testimony and autopsy results suggesting a second gunman.
2017: Lawsuit Against Monsanto
In 2017, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his partners sued Monsanto in federal court in San Francisco, representing plaintiffs seeking damages for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma allegedly caused by exposure to Monsanto's glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup. They also filed a class action lawsuit against Monsanto for failing to warn consumers about the dangers of Roundup.
September 2018: Class-Action Lawsuit Against Columbia Gas
In September 2018, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his partners filed a class-action lawsuit against Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, alleging negligence following gas explosions in three towns north of Boston. Kennedy criticized Columbia Gas for neglecting its existing infrastructure while building new pipelines.
2018: Children's Health Defense Buys Anti-Vaccine Facebook Advertising
Children's Health Defense was identified as one of two major buyers of anti-vaccine Facebook advertising in late 2018.
2018: Allegation that the MMR vaccine played a role in the deaths of two Samoan infants.
In 2018, Kennedy's charity and Winterstein have both perpetuated the allegation that the MMR vaccine played a role in the deaths of two Samoan infants, despite the subsequent revelation that the infants had mistakenly received a muscle relaxant along with the vaccine.
2018: Skakel's Conviction Vacated
In 2018, Michael Skakel's conviction was vacated.
May 8, 2019: Open letter from family members criticizing anti-vaccination activities
On May 8, 2019, Kennedy's niece and siblings wrote an open letter criticizing his anti-vaccination activities and spreading of misinformation, while acknowledging his admirable causes.
June 4, 2019: Appearance in Instagram photo with anti-vaccine activist
On June 4, 2019, during a visit to Samoa, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared in an Instagram photo with Australian-Samoan anti-vaccine activist Taylor Winterstein. Both Kennedy's charity and Winterstein have promoted the allegation that the MMR vaccine played a role in the 2018 deaths of two Samoan infants.
2019: Children's Health Defense Buys Anti-Vaccine Facebook Advertising
Children's Health Defense was identified as one of two major buyers of anti-vaccine Facebook advertising in early 2019.
2019: Kennedy Executive Producer of Vaxxed II
In 2019, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is listed as executive producer of "Vaxxed II: The People's Truth", the sequel to the anti-vaccination propaganda film "Vaxxed".
2019: Kennedy Praises Wakefield
In 2019, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, "In any just society, we would be building statues to Andy Wakefield."
August 2020: Interview with Alec Baldwin on Instagram
In August 2020, Kennedy appeared in an hour-long interview with Alec Baldwin on Instagram where he promoted several incorrect and misleading claims about vaccines and public health measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 2020: Speaker at Berlin demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions
In August 2020, Kennedy spoke at a partially violent demonstration in Berlin where populist groups called for an end to COVID-19 restrictions.
December 30, 2020: Family members criticize RFK Jr.'s views on COVID-19 vaccines
On December 30, 2020, Kerry Kennedy Meltzer criticized her uncle, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for publishing misinformation about COVID-19 vaccine side effects. Caroline Kennedy stated that her family generally supports public health infrastructure but considers RFK Jr.'s views on vaccines as dangerous.
2020: Kennedy says climate crisis is hijacked by billionaires
In 2020, Kennedy claimed that "Bill Gates and the World Economic Forum and the billionaire boys' club in Davos" have hijacked the climate crisis. He said the current market rewards the "dirtiest, filthiest, most poisonous, most toxic, most war-mongering fields from hell."
2020: Claims without proof that Fauci and Gates had schemed to prolong the pandemic
In 2020, Kennedy claims without proof that Fauci and Gates had schemed to prolong the pandemic and exaggerate its effects, promoting expensive vaccinations for the benefit of "a powerful vaccine cartel".
2020: Foreword to "Plague of Corruption"
In 2020, Kennedy wrote the foreword to "Plague of Corruption", a book by anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Judy Mikovits.
2020: No New Trial for Skakel
In 2020, prosecutors decided not to seek a new trial for Michael Skakel.
2020: Kennedy Appears in Online Conversations with Discredited Figures
In 2020, the Center for Countering Digital Hate said that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regularly appeared in online conversations with Andrew Wakefield, Del Bigtree, and Rashid Buttar.
2020: Yahoo Finance Interview
In a 2020 interview on Yahoo Finance, Kennedy described President Trump's environmental policies as a "cataclysm" and criticized the Republican Party's growing hostility toward the environment since 1980.
February 2021: Instagram account blocked
In February 2021, Kennedy's Instagram account was blocked for "repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines".
February 2021: Kennedy's Instagram Account Deleted
In February 2021, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Instagram account was deleted for repeatedly sharing debunked claims about COVID-19 vaccines.
March 2021: Release of "Medical Racism: The New Apartheid" video
In March 2021, Children's Health Defense, with Kennedy's participation, released "Medical Racism: The New Apartheid", an anti-vaccine propaganda video promoting COVID-19 conspiracy theories and claiming COVID-19 vaccination efforts are medical experiments on Black people.
March 2021: Kennedy Identified as Major Source of Anti-Vaccine Content
In March 2021, the Center for Countering Digital Hate identified Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as one of 12 people responsible for up to 65% of anti-vaccine content on Facebook and Twitter.
May 2021: Petition to FDA to rescind COVID vaccine authorization
In May 2021, Kennedy petitioned the FDA to rescind authorization for all current and future COVID vaccines, despite the vaccines having saved approximately 140,000 lives in the United States.
September 2021: YouTube account removal
In late September 2021, Kennedy's YouTube account was removed for violating the company's policies on vaccine misinformation.
November 2021: Publication of "The Real Anthony Fauci"
In November 2021, Kennedy's book "The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health" was published. The book alleges that Fauci sabotaged AIDS treatments, violated federal laws, and conspired to suppress information about COVID-19 cures.
2021: Statement about racial differences in the effectiveness of COVID-19
In 2021, Kennedy explained his remarks by citing a 2021 study that he said showed that COVID-19 appears to disproportionately affect certain races, serving as a kind of proof of concept for ethnically targeted bioweapons.
2021: Kennedy Speaks at Nation of Islam Event
In 2021, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at a Nation of Islam event on vaccines, calling Louis Farrakhan a "truly great partner".
2021: Statements regarding HIV and AIDS
In his 2021 book "The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the War on Democracy and Public Health", Kennedy wrote that he takes "no position on the relationship between HIV and AIDS", but spent over 100 pages quoting HIV denialists such as Peter Duesberg who question the isolation of HIV and the etiology of AIDS.
2021: Maxwell's Trial
Travel logs released during Ghislaine Maxwell's 2021 trial backed the claim that Kennedy had traveled with Jeffrey Epstein.
January 2022: Comments at anti-vaccination rally comparing public health measures to Nazi Germany
In January 2022, Kennedy made controversial comments at an anti-vaccination rally in Washington D.C., comparing public health measures to Nazi Germany, leading to condemnation and later an apology.
2022: Kennedy claims Ukrainian government systematically killed Russians up to 2022
In 2022, Kennedy claimed that Russians living in Ukraine "were being systematically killed by the Ukrainian government", wrongly claiming that all casualties of the Donbas War between 2014 and 2022 (about 14,000) were Russians.
2022: Kennedy blames Biden administration for 2022 invasion of Ukraine
In 2022, Kennedy stated that the Biden administration largely caused the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia due to reckless and militant action, citing NATO expansion. However, he clarified that he opposes Putin's regime and called Putin a "monster", "thug", and "gangster".
June 2023: Atrazine and Gender Dysphoria Claims
In a June 2023 podcast interview, Kennedy suggested a link between atrazine contamination in water and gender dysphoria in children, citing a 2010 study on frogs. The interview was later removed by YouTube for violating its vaccine misinformation policy.
July 2023: Controversial remarks about COVID-19 ethnic targeting
In July 2023, Kennedy made controversial remarks at a private dinner, suggesting that COVID-19 was "ethnically targeted" to attack Caucasians and Black people, while Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese were more immune, leading to widespread condemnation.
July 2023: Kennedy Claims No Vaccine is Safe and Effective
In July 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated, "There's no vaccine that is safe and effective", which goes against his earlier claims about being pro-vaccine.
August 2023: Timothy Mellon's Donation to Kennedy's Super PAC
In August 2023, it was revealed that Timothy Mellon, who gave $15 million to Donald Trump's super PAC MAGA Inc., also donated $5 million to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s super PAC, making him Kennedy's largest single donor. Kennedy's campaign was noted for receiving significant support from Republican donors.
December 2023: Kennedy defends Israel in heated exchange
In December 2023, Kennedy had a heated exchange with Breaking Points host Krystal Ball, in what Rabbi Shmuley Boteach called "the single greatest defense of Israel on videos since the start of the" Gaza war.
2023: Kennedy claims insurance companies unwilling to insure nuclear plants
In 2023, Kennedy stated insurance companies are unwilling to insure nuclear plants, arguing that nuclear energy is a profit-making venture promoted by corporate lobbyists rather than environmental activists.
2023: PolitiFact's Lie of the Year
In 2023, PolitiFact named Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign its "lie of the year", citing numerous false conspiracy theories used during campaign appearances.
2023: Kennedy Denounces Farrakhan
In 2023, during his presidential campaign, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. denounced Louis Farrakhan.
January 2024: Kennedy Claims Lyme Disease is a Military Weapon
In January 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. published a podcast about Lyme disease in which he claimed it is "highly likely to have been a military weapon" developed at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center.
July 2024: Mellon's Donation to Kennedy and Affiliated Groups
In July 2024, Forbes reported that Timothy Mellon had donated $25 million to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kennedy-affiliated groups.
July 2024: Sexual Misconduct Allegations
In July 2024, Vanity Fair reported that Kennedy allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct with Eliza Cooney in the late 1990s when she was his children's babysitter.
July 2024: Dog Carcass Controversy
In July 2024, a photo surfaced in a Vanity Fair story showing Kennedy holding a charred animal carcass. He denied that it was a dog and eating it. Snopes reported that the carcass in the photo is lamb.
August 2024: Dead Bear Incident Disclosure
In August 2024, Kennedy released a video on Twitter admitting that in October 2014 he placed a dead six-month-old bear in Central Park after it was hit by a car, initially intending to skin it for meat, but abandoned the carcass and deliberately positioned it to give the impression that it had been struck by a cyclist. This came in advance of a story in The New Yorker.
August 2024: Endorsement of chemtrails conspiracy theory
In August 2024, after endorsing Trump for president and starting to work with Trump's campaign, Kennedy posted, "We are going to stop this crime" of chemtrails, furthering a conspiracy theory about airplane water vapor trails being purposely dumped chemicals.
September 2024: Relationship with Olivia Nuzzi
In September 2024, Olivia Nuzzi, a reporter for New York magazine, disclosed to her editors that she had been in a relationship with Kennedy, characterizing it as personal but not physical.
October 2024: Accusation against FDA
In October 2024, Kennedy accused the FDA of "aggressive suppression" of raw milk, despite experts warning of disease risks and lack of additional nutritional value.
December 2024: Nobel Laureates Oppose Nomination
In December 2024, over 75 Nobel Laureates urged the US Senate to oppose Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination, expressing concerns that he would endanger public health.
2024: Clarification on Endocrine Disruptors and Gender Dysphoria
Following media criticism, in 2024, a spokesperson for Kennedy's 2024 presidential campaign told CNN that he was being mischaracterized and that he was not claiming that endocrine disruptors were the sole cause of gender dysphoria, but rather proposing further research.
2024: Endorsement of Trump for president
In 2024, Kennedy endorsed Trump for president at a Trump campaign rally in Arizona.
2024: Investigation Request
In 2024, an environmental advocacy group requested an investigation into the 2012 whale head incident, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement found no basis for the allegation.
January 9, 2025: Doctors Oppose Nomination
On January 9, 2025, over 17,000 doctors from the Committee to Protect Health Care signed an open letter urging the Senate to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination, citing his history of undermining vaccine confidence and spreading misinformation as a threat to national healthcare.
January 24, 2025: Organizations Oppose Nomination
As of January 24, 2025, more than 80 organizations had voiced opposition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination, adding to the growing resistance against his potential appointment.
January 28, 2025: Caroline Kennedy Denounces RFK Jr.
On January 28, 2025, Caroline Kennedy publicly denounced Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a letter and video sent to U.S. senators, calling him a "predator" and "hypocrite" unqualified for the role of Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. She accused him of animal cruelty and encouraging substance abuse among family members.
February 14, 2025: Federal Health Workers Fired
On February 14, 2025, approximately 5,200 newly hired federal health workers at agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), were informed of their termination.
February 20, 2025: CDC Flu Vaccination Ad Campaign Suspended
On February 20, 2025, during a severe influenza season, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) instructed the CDC to suspend its ad campaign promoting flu vaccination.
March 2025: Kennedy refers to student protests against Israel as 'anti-semitism'
In March 2025, in an HHS news release, Kennedy referred to student protests against Israel's actions in Gaza as "anti-semitism" and the product of "woke cancel culture".
April 2025: NIOSH Staff Fired
In April 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired most of the staff of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, resulting in the abrupt cancellation of programs and research.
May 22, 2025: MAHA Commission Releases Report on Childhood Chronic Disease
On May 22, 2025, the MAHA Commission released a "wide-ranging" report linking diet, vaccinations, medical prescriptions, physical stress, food additives, and pesticides to the rise in childhood chronic disease.
June 2025: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Members Replaced
In June 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the removal of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and their replacement with new individuals.
August 2025: Association with Jeffrey Epstein
In August 2025, Ghislaine Maxwell claimed that Kennedy traveled with Jeffrey Epstein, which was supported by travel logs. Maxwell stated that she "never saw anything inappropriate" from him during that time. Kennedy confirmed traveling with Epstein on multiple occasions.
August 2025: CDC Leaders Resign Over Anti-Science Policies
In August 2025, following the ousting of CDC director Susan Monarez, several CDC leaders, including Demetre Daskalakis, Debra Houry, and the heads of other directorates, resigned in protest of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-science policies, with some accusing him of weaponizing public health for political gain.
October 9, 2025: Alleged link between autism and circumcision
On October 9, 2025, Kennedy alleged a link between autism and circumcision, citing a 2015 Danish study. Scientists and medical experts have rejected Kennedy's assertion.
November 2025: Listed in Epstein's Contact Book
In November 2025, Kennedy was confirmed to be listed in Jeffrey Epstein's personal contact book. The release of the Epstein Files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act included an email about Richardson Kennedy's death. Kennedy dismissed the connection as merely social.
November 19, 2025: CDC Website on Autism and Vaccines Changed
On November 19, 2025, the CDC website on "Autism and Vaccines" was significantly altered from its September 2025 version. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly stated that he personally directed the CDC to change its stance that vaccines do not cause autism.
December 5, 2025: ACIP Recommends Changes to Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation
On December 5, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) vaccine panel voted to end the CDC's universal recommendation that newborn babies receive Hepatitis B vaccine doses. They instead suggested "individual-based decision-making for parents", which is infants born to women who test negative for the virus.
2025: Confirmation as HHS Secretary
In 2025, Kennedy was narrowly confirmed as HHS secretary amid strong opposition.
March 16, 2026: Court Orders Reversal of Vaccine Decisions
On March 16, 2026, Massachusetts District Court Judge Brian Murphy ordered the reversal of all decisions made by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership, citing disregard for the scientific method.
2026: Publication of RFK Jr: The Fall and Rise
In Isabel Vincent's 2026 book "RFK Jr: The Fall and Rise", an entry from Kennedy's November 11, 2001 diary is mentioned, detailing his cutting of a road-killed raccoon's penis.
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