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., an American politician, environmental lawyer, author, and member of the Kennedy family, is the son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy. He currently serves as the 26th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. RFK Jr. is also known for his anti-vaccine activism and promotion of conspiracy theories.
1975: Martha Moxley Murder
In 2003, Kennedy wrote an article for the Atlantic Monthly about the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley in Greenwich, Connecticut, and discusses his cousin Michael Skakel's indictment for the murder.
1980: Beginning of hostility towards environment within Republican Party
In a 2020 interview, Kennedy stated that since 1980, there has been a growing hostility towards the environment within the Republican Party.
September 16, 1983: Charged with Heroin Possession
On September 16, 1983, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was charged with heroin possession in Rapid City, South Dakota.
February 1984: Pleaded Guilty to Heroin Possession
In February 1984, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pleaded guilty to a single felony charge of possession of heroin. He was sentenced to two years of probation and community service. After his arrest, he entered a drug treatment center.
1989: Approval of Vaccines Linked to Food Allergies
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 beginning in 1989.
1993: Clashed with Environmental Groups over Indigenous Rights
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 negotiations with Conoco to limit oil development and obtain benefits for Amazonian tribes, while also criticizing Texaco's past pollution record.
1995: 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.
2000: Rehiring of William Wegner
In 2000, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. insisted on rehiring William Wegner at Riverkeeper. This decision led to resignations from the board due to Wegner's past environmental crimes conviction.
2001: Sued U.S. Navy and Arrested in Vieques Protest
In 2001, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sued the U.S. Navy on behalf of fishermen and residents of Vieques, Puerto Rico, to stop weapons testing. He argued the activities were unnecessary and illegally harmed endangered species, polluted waters, damaged health, and the economy. He was arrested for trespassing at Camp Garcia Vieques and served 30 days in a maximum security prison.
2002: Smithfield Foods Lawsuit in Poland
In 2002, Smithfield Foods sued Kennedy in Poland for criticizing the company in a debate with Smithfield's Polish director before the Polish parliament.
2003: Article on the Martha Moxley Murder Case
In 2003, Kennedy published an article in The Atlantic Monthly about the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley, arguing for Michael Skakel's innocence and suggesting Kenneth Littleton as the possible killer.
2003: Called U.S. Government "America's Biggest Polluter"
In a 2003 article for the Chicago Tribune, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called the U.S. federal government "America's biggest polluter" and the U.S. Department of Defense the worst offender, citing EPA findings of unexploded ordnance waste on military ranges.
2003: Criticism of Bush's Environmental and Energy Policies
Throughout the presidency of George W. Bush, including in 2003, Kennedy criticized Bush's environmental and energy policies, stating that Bush was defunding and corrupting federal science projects and was critical of Bush's hydrogen car initiative.
2004: Endorsement of John Kerry and Allegations of Election Fraud
In 2004, Kennedy endorsed John Kerry for president, citing Kerry's environmental record. After Kerry's loss to George W. Bush, Kennedy wrote an article for Rolling Stone alleging fraudulent results and a stolen election, based on discrepancies in exit polling and voter disenfranchisement.
2004: Allegations of Stolen Presidential Election
In June 2006, Kennedy published an article alleging that the 2004 presidential election was stolen for George W. Bush.
June 2005: Kennedy Publishes Controversial "Deadly Immunity" Article
In June 2005, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote an article, "Deadly Immunity", published in Rolling Stone and Salon.com, alleging a government conspiracy to conceal a link between thimerosal and childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. The article contained factual errors, leading Salon to issue five corrections.
2005: Opposed 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 it was a costly boondoggle, leading to criticism from environmentalists and commentators.
2005: Promotion of Vaccine Misinformation
Since 2005, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted vaccine misinformation and public-health conspiracy theories, including the disproven claim of a link between vaccines and autism.
June 2006: Publication of Article on 2004 Presidential Election
In June 2006, Kennedy published an article in Rolling Stone alleging that GOP operatives stole the 2004 presidential election for George W. Bush, an argument that was widely regarded as a conspiracy theory.
2010: Atrazine exposure study cited
In 2010, Hayes published a study which was later cited by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a June 2023 podcast, alleging that acute atrazine exposure causes chemical castration and feminization in frogs. Kennedy suggested there was other evidence indicating potential effects on humans.
2011: Salon.com Retracts "Deadly Immunity" Article
In 2011, Salon.com retracted Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Deadly Immunity" article due to accumulating evidence of alleged errors and scientific fraud underlying the vaccine-autism claim. A corrected version was published on Rolling Stone's website. Kennedy claimed Salon caved to pressure, which the editor denied.
October 2012: Call to direct dissatisfaction toward Congress
During an October 2012 interview with Politico, Kennedy urged environmentalists to focus their dissatisfaction on Congress rather than President Barack Obama, citing a partisan Congress as the reason for Obama's lack of progress. He criticized politicians who do not address climate change and accused Charles and David Koch of subverting democracy.
2012: Whale Head Incident
In 2012, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allegedly used a chainsaw to sever the head of a dead beached whale in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and transported it on top of their minivan, as recounted by his daughter Kathleen in a Town & Country magazine profile.
2012: Neurological Issues Attributed to Worm and Mercury Poisoning
In a 2012 divorce court deposition, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attributed his neurological issues to "a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died", in addition to mercury poisoning from eating large quantities of tuna.
February 2013: Arrest During Keystone XL Pipeline Protest
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: Kennedy Delivers Keynote at Anti-Vaccination Conference
In May 2013, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered the keynote address at the anti-vaccination AutismOne / Generation Rescue conference.
October 2014: Incident with Dead Bear in Central Park
In October 2014, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. placed a dead six-month-old bear in Central Park after it was hit by a car, initially planning to skin it for meat, then abandoned the carcass but deliberately positioned it to appear hit by a cyclist. This resulted in local news coverage and a necropsy.
2014: Remarks during the People's Climate March
During the 2014 People's Climate March, Kennedy described the Koch brothers as leading "the apocalyptical forces of Ignorance and Greed" and highlighted their significant financial contributions to efforts against climate bills.
2014: Kennedy's Book 'Thimerosal: Let the Science Speak' Published
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 mercury from vaccines, though the CDC states there is no convincing evidence of harm from thimerosal in vaccines.
April 2015: Kennedy Promotes 'Trace Amounts' Film, Calls Autism Increase a "Holocaust"
In April 2015, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. participated in a Speakers' Forum to promote the film "Trace Amounts," which promotes the discredited claim of a link between autism and mercury in vaccinations. At a screening, he called the increased cases of autism (which he calls an "autism epidemic") a "holocaust".
2015: Kennedy Joins Anti-Vaccine Advocacy Group
In 2015, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined the World Mercury Project, an anti-vaccine advocacy group, later known as Children's Health Defense, focusing on mercury in industry and medicine, particularly thimerosal in vaccines.
2015: Remarks on Politicians Skeptical of Global Warming
In a 2015 interview, Kennedy expressed a desire for a law to punish politicians skeptical of global warming. He emphasized that environmentalists should focus on tackling the "carbon industry."
August 2016: Dakota Access Pipeline Protest
In August 2016, Kennedy and Waterkeepers participated in protests to block the extension of the Dakota Access pipeline across the Sioux Indian Standing Rock Reservation's water supply.
2016: Remarks on Donald Trump and his Supporters
In 2016, Kennedy described supporters of presidential candidate Donald Trump 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: Why Michael Skakel Spent over a Decade in Prison for a Murder He Didn't Commit"
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: Kennedy and De Niro Offer Reward for Safe Mercury Injection Study
On February 15, 2017, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Robert De Niro held a press conference offering a $100,000 reward for a study proving the safety of injecting mercury into babies and pregnant women at levels contained in flu vaccines. This was criticized as unscientific.
June 2017: Remarks on the Oil Industry's Strategy
In a June 2017 interview on EnviroNews, Kennedy discussed the oil industry's strategy, stating their goal is to build as many miles of pipeline as possible to increase infrastructure investment and prevent the country from moving away from it.
December 2017: Meeting with Sirhan Sirhan
In December 2017, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility to meet with Sirhan Sirhan, and subsequently voiced his support for reinvestigating the assassination of his father based on eyewitness testimony and autopsy findings.
2018: Samoan Infants' Deaths Allegedly Linked to MMR Vaccine
In 2018, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Taylor Winterstein 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: Children's Health Defense Buys Anti-Vaccine Advertising
In late 2018 and early 2019, Children's Health Defense was identified as one of the major buyers of anti-vaccine Facebook advertising. Members of Kennedy's family criticized him for spreading "dangerous misinformation" with "heartbreaking" consequences.
May 8, 2019: Family members distance themselves from Kennedy's anti-vaccination stance
On May 8, 2019, Maeve Kennedy McKean, Kathleen, and Joseph, Kennedy's niece and siblings, penned an open letter expressing their disapproval of his anti-vaccination stance and spread of misinformation through social media.
June 4, 2019: Kennedy Visits Samoa, Appears with Anti-Vaccine Activist
On June 4, 2019, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Samoa and appeared in an Instagram photo with anti-vaccine activist Taylor Winterstein. Both have perpetuated the false claim that the MMR vaccine played a role in the 2018 deaths of two Samoan infants.
2019: Kennedy listed as executive producer of anti-vaccination film
In 2019, Kennedy is listed as executive producer of "Vaxxed II: The People's Truth", the sequel to the anti-vaccination propaganda film "Vaxxed".
2019: Children's Health Defense Buys Anti-Vaccine Advertising
In late 2018 and early 2019, Children's Health Defense was identified as one of the major buyers of anti-vaccine Facebook advertising. Members of Kennedy's family criticized him for spreading "dangerous misinformation" with "heartbreaking" consequences.
August 2020: Kennedy Spreads COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories in Interview
In August 2020, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared in an hour-long interview with Alec Baldwin on Instagram, touting incorrect and misleading claims about vaccines and public health measures related to the pandemic. Public health officials criticized Baldwin for not challenging Kennedy's claims.
December 30, 2020: Niece criticizes misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines
On December 30, 2020, Kerry Kennedy Meltzer, Kennedy's niece and a physician, wrote an open letter criticizing her uncle for spreading misinformation regarding the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines.
2020: Criticism of Market Rules
In 2020, Kennedy criticized the market, stating that the rules were written by carbon incumbents to reward the "dirtiest, filthiest, most poisonous, most toxic, most war-mongering fields from hell", rather than clean and green fields.
2020: Kennedy Bolsters Anti-Vaccination Movement
In 2020, the Center for Countering Digital Hate reported that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. uses his status as an environmental activist to bolster the anti-vaccination movement, appearing in online conversations with discredited individuals and conspiracy theorists.
2020: Criticism of Trump's environmental policies
In a 2020 interview on Yahoo Finance's "Influencers with Andy Serwer", Kennedy described President Trump's environmental policies as a "cataclysm" and part of a trend in the Republican Party toward hostility towards the environment and corporate power.
February 2021: Kennedy's Instagram Account Blocked for Vaccine Misinformation
In February 2021, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'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: Kennedy Identified as Top Anti-Vaccine Content Spreader
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: Kennedy Petitions FDA to Rescind COVID Vaccine Authorization
In May 2021, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. petitioned the FDA to rescind authorization for all current and future COVID vaccines, which had saved about 140,000 lives in the United States. An immunology professor called Kennedy's request "an appalling error of judgment".
September 2021: YouTube account removed for vaccine misinformation
In late September 2021, Kennedy's YouTube account was terminated for violating the platform's policies regarding 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 accuses Fauci of sabotaging AIDS treatments, violating federal laws, conspiring with Bill Gates and social media companies like Facebook to suppress COVID-19 cures, and promoting vaccinations for the benefit of a "powerful vaccine cartel".
January 2022: Controversial Holocaust remark and apology
In January 2022, during an anti-vaccination rally, Kennedy made a controversial comparison to Nazi Germany and Anne Frank, which was widely condemned. He apologized for the comment two days later.
2022: Criticism of Biden administration's role in Ukraine invasion
In 2022, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the Biden administration's actions were a major cause of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, particularly citing NATO expansion. At the same time, he clarified that his criticism should not be taken as support for Putin's government, which he ethically opposes and characterized Putin as a "monster", "thug", and "gangster".
June 2023: Contamination and gender dysphoria podcast
In June 2023, during a podcast interview with Jordan Peterson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested that atrazine contamination in the water supply could be linked to gender dysphoria in children. This statement, along with the podcast interview, was subsequently criticized by various publications and removed by YouTube under its vaccine misinformation policy.
July 2023: Controversial comments on COVID-19 targeting ethnic groups
In July 2023, Kennedy was recorded at a private dinner suggesting that COVID-19 was ethnically targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people, while Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people are the most immune. These remarks were immediately condemned as antisemitic and Sinophobic.
July 2023: Kennedy States No Vaccine is Safe and Effective
In July 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated, "There's no vaccine that is safe and effective," contrasting with his earlier position that he is pro-vaccine but wants them to be safer.
2023: Views on Nuclear Power
In 2023, Kennedy expressed his opposition to conventional nuclear power, arguing that it is unsafe and not economically competitive, and views nuclear energy as a profit-making venture promoted by corporate lobbyists.
2023: Presidential Campaign Named 'Lie of the Year'
In 2023, PolitiFact named Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign its "lie of the year" due to the use of false conspiracy theories during campaign appearances.
2023: Views on Environmentalism
In 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed to be the "leading environmentalist in the country" and criticized figures like Bill Gates and the World Economic Forum for allegedly hijacking the climate crisis. He advocates for populist and anti-establishment environmental policies.
January 2024: Kennedy Alleges Lyme Disease as Military Weapon
In January 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. published a podcast claiming that Lyme disease was "highly likely to have been a military weapon" developed at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, a claim widely debunked by experts.
July 2024: Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with Eliza Cooney
In July 2024, Vanity Fair reported that in the late 1990s, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct with Eliza Cooney, a part-time babysitter for his children, including groping and inappropriate touching.
July 2024: Image of Charred Animal Carcass Surfaces
In July 2024, an image of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. holding a charred animal carcass captured in 2010, surfaced in a Vanity Fair story, which alleged that the carcass belonged to a dog and that Kennedy ate it. Kennedy denied eating dog meat, stating it was a goat, though it was later identified as lamb.
August 2024: Admission of Placing Dead Bear in Central Park
In August 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released a video acknowledging that in October 2014 he placed a dead six-month-old bear in Central Park, after initially intending to skin it for meat, and then abandoned the carcass after being concerned about spoilage, but deliberately positioned it to appear hit by a cyclist.
August 2024: Endorsement of Trump and Chemtrail Conspiracy
In August 2024, after endorsing Trump for president and beginning to work with his campaign, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted about stopping the "crime" of chemtrails, aligning himself with a conspiracy theory about airplane contrails being purposely dumped chemicals.
September 2024: Relationship with Olivia Nuzzi Revealed
In September 2024, Olivia Nuzzi, a reporter for New York magazine, disclosed to her editors that she had been in a relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which she described as personal but not physical.
September 2024: Investigation into Whale Head Incident
In September 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement announced that it was investigating a 2012 incident in which Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allegedly used a chainsaw to sever the head of a dead beached whale and transported it on top of their minivan.
October 2024: Accusation against the FDA
In October 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accused the FDA of "aggressive suppression" of raw milk, which he consumes and believes has health benefits.
December 2024: Nobel Laureates Urged Opposition to Kennedy's Nomination
In December 2024, more than 75 Nobel Laureates urged the U.S. Senate to oppose Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination, stating that he would "put the public's health in jeopardy".
2024: Endorsement of Trump for president
In 2024, Kennedy endorsed Trump for president at a Trump campaign rally in Arizona.
2024: Campaign Spokesperson Clarification
In 2024, following media criticism of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s statements about endocrine disruptors and gender dysphoria, a spokesperson for his presidential campaign clarified to CNN that he was not claiming endocrine disruptors were the sole cause and proposed further research.
January 9, 2025: Doctors Urged Senate to Oppose Nomination
As of January 9, 2025, over 17,000 doctors from Committee to Protect Health Care signed an open letter urging the Senate to oppose Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination, arguing he undermines public confidence in vaccines and spreads false claims.
January 24, 2025: Organizations Oppose Kennedy's Nomination
On January 24, 2025, over 80 organizations voiced their opposition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination. Gregg Gonsalves compared putting Kennedy in charge of a health agency to "putting a flat earther in charge of NASA."
January 28, 2025: Caroline Kennedy denounces Kennedy
On January 28, 2025, Caroline Kennedy publicly denounced Kennedy in a letter she sent U.S. senators and in a video of her reading the letter, calling him a "predator" and a "hypocrite" who was unqualified to be the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
February 20, 2025: HHS Suspends CDC Flu Vaccination Campaign
On February 20, 2025, amidst a severe influenza season, the HHS instructed the CDC to suspend its advertising campaign promoting flu vaccination, which aimed to highlight the benefits of vaccination in reducing symptom severity.
March 2025: Condemnation of student protests against Israel
In a March 2025 HHS news release, Kennedy referred to student protests against Israel's actions in Gaza as "anti-semitism" and the product of "woke cancel culture".
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