Kennedy tells vaccine skeptics they have friend in White House

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a conference of vaccine-skeptic activists on Thursday that they have a "strong and steadfast friend in the White House," affirming the Trump administration's support for their agenda amid a growing measles outbreak. Kennedy delivered the keynote address at a conference hosted by Children's Health Defense, an organization he previously chaired, marking his first appearance at the event since becoming the nation's top public health official. In his speech, Kennedy criticized the current childhood vaccine schedule and the safety monitoring system, claiming the true risks of vaccines are unknown. He pointed to the hepatitis B vaccine's clinical trials, which involved 147 children monitored for five days, as evidence of insufficient testing. "We have no idea what the risk profile is for these products," Kennedy said, adding that his department is conducting research into more than 150 serious adverse events reported after vaccination. Kennedy's appearance comes as the United States faces its worst year for measles since 1991, with more than 3,000 cases reported in 2026.