Mitch McConnell's Full Statement on Vote Against Trump Nominee RFK Jr.

Senator Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, released a Thursday statement that credited his decision to vote against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's pick for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, to Kennedy Jr.'s "record of trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions."

Newsweek reached out to McConnell's office via email for comment on Thursday.

Why It Matters

Kennedy Jr. was a controversial pick by Trump, largely because of his fringe views on vaccines. He has previously echoed the widely debunked claim that vaccines are linked to autism. He told senators at his confirmation hearings that he was not anti-vaccine, although, he repeatedly refused to acknowledge that the scientific community at large believes childhood vaccines do not cause autism and that COVID-19 vaccines saved millions of lives.

Nevertheless, Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as HHS secretary on Thursday in a 52-48 vote largely along party lines. McConnell, who had polio as a child, was the only Republican to vote against Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation. He previously broke with Trump in voting "no" for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, showing a willingness to defy the president and his Republican colleagues in a way he didn't before he stepped down as the leader of the Senate GOP.

What To Know

In a statement posted to his Senate website, McConnell said, "I'm a survivor of childhood polio. In my lifetime, I've watched vaccines save millions of lives from devastating diseases across America and around the world. I will not condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles."

The senator continued: "Individuals, parents, and families have a right to push for a healthier nation and demand the best possible scientific guidance on preventing and treating illness. But a record of trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions does not entitle Mr. Kennedy to lead these important efforts."

"The Administration—led by the same President who delivered a medical miracle with Project Warp Speed—deserves a leader who is willing to acknowledge without qualification the efficacy of life-saving vaccines and who can demonstrate an understanding of basic elements of the U.S. healthcare system. Mr. Kennedy failed to prove he is the best possible person to lead America's largest health agency. As he takes office, I sincerely hope Mr. Kennedy will choose not to sow further doubt and division but to restore trust in our public health institutions," he said.

What Has Kennedy Said About The Polio Vaccine?

In December 2024, Kennedy Jr. told reporters on Capitol Hill he was "all for" the polio vaccine, which is credited for eradicating polio in the U.S. and most of the world.

His remarks came after backlash stemming from a New York Times report, which revealed that in 2022, a lawyer associated with Kennedy submitted a petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, arguing for the revocation of the polio vaccine's approval, claiming the agency had not conducted adequate safety studies.

Following the report, Senator Mitch McConnell drew on his own experience with polio to express his concerns about Kennedy's nomination.

"The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives and held out the promise of eradicating a terrible disease," McConnell said. "Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed—they're dangerous. Anyone seeking the Senate's consent to serve in the incoming administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts."

What People Are Saying

Merith Basey, the executive director of Patients for Affordable Drugs, said in a statement to Newsweek on Thursday: "Secretary Kennedy has a critical opportunity – and responsibility—to build on existing measures to rein in Big Pharma's price-gouging and lower drug costs for patients. We are ready to work with him to ensure Medicare drug price negotiations continue, out-of-pocket costs are reduced, and competition in the marketplace is increased through reforms to end abusive pharmaceutical monopolies that harm patients.

"But make no mistake: patients fought hard to secure the 2022 prescription drug law, and we will fiercely oppose any efforts to weaken it."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday: "We are going to Make America Healthy Again!"

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York on the floor prior to the RFK vote: "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is not remotely qualified to become the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. In fact, I might go further. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. might be one of the least qualified people the president could have chosen for the job. It's almost as if Mr. Kennedy's beliefs, history, and background were tailor-made to be the exact opposite of what the job demands."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said during one of his confirmation hearings: "Should I be so privileged as to be confirmed, we will make sure our tax dollars support healthy foods. We will scrutinize the chemical additives in our food supply. We will remove financial conflicts of interest from our agencies. We will create an honest, unbiased, gold-standard science at HHS, accountable to the president, to Congress, and to the American people. We will reverse the chronic disease epidemic and put the nation back on the road to good health."

What's Next

Trump previously said he wants to significantly cut down government spending. Republicans have proposed rolling back the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion for Medicaid, which allowed an additional 20 million Americans to enroll in health insurance.

With Trump's backing, Kennedy has said he is "uniquely positioned" to revive trust in public health agencies that promote vaccines.