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The much-anticipated testimony from Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unfolded Wednesday in the Senate Finance Committee.
Democrats were conflicted on how to approach the matter, given that Kennedy shared many of their political beliefs.
Some of the biggest moments from the hearing, highlighted below, instantly went viral on social media.
In his opening statement, RFK Jr. told committee members, “Today, Americans’ overall health is in grievous condition.” He listed various chronic health conditions affecting Americans, including obesity, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases, ADHD, and others.
He told the committee, “President Trump has promised to restore America’s global strength and to restore the American Dream, but he understands that we can’t be a strong nation when our people are so sick. A healthy person has a thousand dreams. A sick person has only one.”
He reminded the committee of the results of the 2024 presidential election. “President Trump is committed to restoring the American Dream and 77 million Americans delivered a mandate to him to do just that due in part to the praise and elevation of the Make America Healthy Again movement.”
While Democrats spent most of their time interrupting Kennedy while discussing abortion and accusing him of being against vaccines, Republicans focused on his Make America Healthy Again initiative.
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-KS, a physician, told Kennedy, “Mr. Kennedy, I believe for such a time as this that you’re not just one of 300 million people. I think that you are the person to lead HHS to Make America Healthy Again and that God has a divine purpose for you. And I look forward to your confirmation and working with you to MAHA.”
In response to Democrats labeling Kennedy a conspiracy theorist, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, jokingly asked him, “Are you a conspiracy theorist?” RFK Jr. responded with, “That is a pejorative, Senator, that is applied to me, mainly to keep me from asking difficult questions of powerful interest.” He then listed various alleged conspiracies that were ultimately proven to be true, including how the COVID-19 vaccine did not prevent transmission or infection.
At one point during the hearing when responding to questions about Medicare and Medicaid, Kennedy asked, “I would ask any of the Democrats who were chuckling just now: Do you think all that money, that $900 billion that we’re sending to Medicaid every year has made Americans healthy? Do we think it’s working for ANYBODY?!” This response, along with many others during the hearing, received thunderous applause from attendees.
Perhaps one of the most inspiring moments from the hearing was when Kennedy told the committee, “The first thing I’ve done every morning for the past 20 years is get on my knees and pray to God that He would put me in a position to end the chronic disease epidemic and to help America’s children. That’s why I’m so grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to sit before you today and seek your support and partnership in this endeavor.”
Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, concluded the hearing with, “Mr. Kennedy, I look forward to working with you.” The crowd again erupted with applause and shouts of, “We love you, Bobby!”