‘Something’s Wrong’: Trump Says RFK Jr. Will Check For Potential Links Between Childhood Vaccines And Autism

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will investigate for any potential links between childhood vaccines and autism, he told “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker in a Friday interview which aired Sunday.

Welker pressed Trump on Kennedy’s stances on childhood vaccines and asked Trump if he’d like to see them eliminated.

“If they’re dangerous for the children,” Trump responded. “When you look at some of the problems, when you look at what’s going on with disease and sickness in our country, something’s wrong.”

“Are you talking about autism?” Welker asked.

“Well, if you take a look at autism — go back 25 years — autism was almost non-existent, it was one out of 100,000. Now it’s close to one out of 100. I mean, what’s happening?” Trump asked.

BREAKING: Trump announces that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will investigate childhood vaccines and their potential link to autism, as well as other possible causes, as the head of HHS. pic.twitter.com/i0M58oqEc6

— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) December 8, 2024

Trump also revealed he invited leaders from drug companies to Mar-a-Lago for a discussion with Kennedy about vaccines. Trump’s pick to lead HHS subagency Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Mehmet Oz, was also in attendance, Trump told Welker. (RELATED: RFK Jr. Wants Fluoride Out Of Water — And It’s Not Nearly As Crazy As His Detractors Claim)

While expressing openness to some of Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism, Trump also praised other vaccines.

“Look, I’m not against vaccines. The polio vaccine is the greatest thing. If someone told me to get rid of the polio vaccine, they’re gonna have to work real hard to convince me. I think certain vaccines are incredible. But maybe some aren’t. And if they aren’t, we have to find out.”

Kennedy’s critics have long castigated him over his views on vaccines.

Since announcing an independent bid to run for president in October 2023, Kennedy has claimed that he is not anti-vaccine. He does, however, have a history of promoting skepticism of certain vaccines including the measles, mumps and rubella (MME) inoculation

“What I say to people is, ‘You shouldn’t believe me. Don’t believe what I say … you need to look at the science yourself. You can’t believe the CDC because they’re owned by the pharmaceutical industry,’” Kennedy told hip-hop and R&B morning radio show “The Breakfast Club” in August 2023.

“We live in a democracy; you have the responsibility to do research yourself. Unfortunately, and you should. But you can’t believe your doctors because they’re believing the CDC. You need to actually say to your doctors, ‘Have you looked at the listed side effects of that vaccine? Have there been any studies that actually show that people who take it are better off five years later than people who don’t?’ He will not be able to answer that question. When I was a kid, I got three vaccines and I was fully compliant, but today kids — my kids got 72 vaccines. 72 doses and what happened is in 1986 … In 1979 there was a new vaccine called the diphtheria tetanus and pertussis vaccine that was added to that schedule. That vaccine was causing brain damage or death in one in every 300 kids. The CDC was telling the public it was one in a million but then NIH did a study with UCLA and they were shocked and they discontinued that vaccine in this country,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy’s critics maintain that his views on vaccines are dangerous. One example they often cite is a 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa which occurred shortly after Kennedy visited the island.

Public health officials say there is no merit to the claim there is a link between autism and vaccines. Kennedy previously wrote a book, “Thimerosal: Let The Science Speak,” which linked the nation’s rise in autism to thimerosal, a preservative which was once used in vaccines containing mercury. That theory was first publicized by Dr. Andrew Wakefield in a 1998 paper published in a British medical journal, “The Lancet.”

“The Lancet” fully retracted the paper in 2010, however, and numerous other studies have concluded no link exists between vaccines and autism.

“In July 1999, the Public Health Service agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure,” according to the CDC. Despite that measure, rates of autism have continued to climb.

Editor’s note: This report has been updated with additional details.