Trump says RFK Jr. will investigate the discredited link between vaccines and autism: 'Somebody has to find out'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Dec. 8, 2024, 9:00 AM EST


President-elect Donald Trump suggested that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his pick to run Health and Human Services, will investigate supposed links between autism and childhood vaccines, a discredited connection that has eroded trust in the lifesaving inoculations. “I think somebody has to find out,” Trump said in an exclusive interview with “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker.

Welker noted in a back-and-forth that studies have shown childhood vaccines prevent about 4 million deaths worldwide every year, have found no connection between vaccines and autism, and that rises in autism diagnoses are attributable to increased screening and awareness. “If you go back 25 years ago,” Trump claimed, “you had very little autism. Now you have it.” “Something is going on,” Trump added. “I don’t know if it’s vaccines. Maybe it’s chlorine in the water, right? You know, people are looking at a lot of different things.”

It was unclear whether Trump was referring to opposition by Kennedy and others to fluoride being added to drinking water. Kennedy, the onetime independent presidential candidate who backed Trump after leaving the race, generated a large following through his widespread skepticism of the American health care and food system. A major component of that has been his false claims linking autism to childhood vaccinations. Kennedy is the founder of a prominent anti-vaccine activist group, Children’s Health Defense.

The agency Trump has tasked him with running supports and funds research into autism, as well as possible new vaccines. The debunked link between autism and childhood vaccines, particularly the inoculation against mumps, measles and rubella, was first claimed in 1998 by a British doctor who was later banned from practicing medicine in the United Kingdom. His research was found to be critically flawed and was subsequently retracted. Hundreds of studies have found childhood vaccines to be safe.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-rfk-jr-will-investigate-discredited-link-vaccines-autism-so-rcna183273

[Tweedy]

1. Many somebodies with MD's after their names

already has found out. There is no link.

This is just the latest attempt to pillage our vaccine funds. None of those billions will make into the hands of parents of autistic children either.

[Irish_Dem]

2. They will do fake research studies and pocket the money.

Like all the other grifts.

[Deuxcents]

3. By all means, put a biased person in charge

[Karasu]

4. There's nothing Republicans love more than to "prove" their insane conspiracy theories. Appointing people who already

believe this crazy-ass shit is literally the only way to do that. Confirmation bias is the conservative way.

[BOSSHOG]

5. On day ONE

Yes Donald it’s chlorine in the water. Isn’t whatever money he gets from your election payoff enough. He doesn’t need your okay to kill people. We’d rather you not.

[LiberalArkie]

6. The reason there were fewer cases. In my case the docs told my parents back in the 50's to just put me

in the state mental hospital or just take care of me. Of course the only vaccine that I had be given at that time was Small Pox vaccine.

Oh mine is what used to be Asperger's .

[Aviation Pro]

7. Just like President Obama's birth certificate

And every other fucking thing Motherfucker said needed investigating.

Go investigate your colon, you sack of shit.

[travelingthrulife]

16. You'd think Elon and Vivek would put an end to this future waste of money.

[MacKasey]

8. Autism has been around more than 25 years

They just didn't call it autism,

They called the people slow or handicapped

Or they were locked away so they were not seen.

My cousin has 2 sons who are autistic and they are in their 40's

Tsf is the village idiot

[Journeyman]

9. Yes, let's get rid of chlorine disinfectants from the water . . .

We won't have as many autistic children if the potential parents die from cholera.

[JoseBalow]

10. The dumb leading the dumb

leading the dumb.

I hope we survive this

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. How about the link between stupidity and conservatism?

[Rebl2]

12. Definitely should

Be studied I think.

[cstanleytech]

13. Don't forget to investigate the issue with brain worms.

[Aussie105]

14. This link and many others will be investigated

until the 'right' answer is found.

The right answer being of course, whatever RFK thinks it should be. Beforehand.

Eye of newt and brain of frog make a good poultice for gunshot wounds I hear.

[AZLD4Candidate]

15. Exercise in confirmation bias incoming. Vaccines cause autism. Prove it.

[Paladin]

17. Like I'll trust ANYTHING rfk jr. has to say about vaccines.