GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy pits RFK Jr. against Trump on vaccines

Washington – Senator Bill Cassidy, R -La., The secretary of healthy health and social services Robert F. Kennedy on his skepticism of vaccines on Thursday, arguing that his actions are flying to one of the greatest achievements of President Donald Trump.

Cassidy opened his interrogation during an hearing in the Senate by asking Kennedy if he accepts that Trump should obtain a Nobel Prize for the development of the vaccine coded in the pangs of the pandemic during his first mandate, known as Speed ​​Operation Warp.

Kennedy replied quickly: “Absolutely, senator.”

Cassidy was skeptical.

“But you just said to Sen. [Michael] Bennet that the coche vaccine killed more people than wearing. It was a statement, “said Cassidy, adding that” it surprises me that you were thinking so strongly of Operation Warp Speed ​​when, as a lawyer, you tried to restrict access “to the cocvid vaccine.

Kennedy denied having declared that the vaccine had killed more people than cochables and proposed to explain why he had carried out legal work in opposition to the vaccine. But Cassidy was not impressed, saying that he had a limited time and persisted with other questions.

Cassidy has cited testimonies from a conservative commentator according to which HHS actions make it more difficult for some Americans to obtain the coche vaccine, and doctors feared that the lack of HHS advice on the vaccine could not create liability problems.

“I would say, in fact, we refuse people the vaccine,” Cassidy told Kennedy during his interrogation.

The unusual exchange occurs while Cassidy walks on a political rope. He is a doctor and supporter of vaccines. But he also presents himself to a re -election in the deep red state of Louisiana, where he faces a challenge of the Maga wing of the party. Trump did not make the approval in the race.

Cassidy’s strategy on Thursday consisted of expressing his skepticisms of Kennedy through the language of Trump’s movement: by presenting them as a means of showing his support for the President and protecting his heritage.

Trump has a complex history in the matter. He was proud of the deployment of the vaccine coche during the pandemic. But during his return campaign in 2024, Trump also sought to channel the anger against the government’s response to Covid within his base – including distrust of public health officials who resulted in certain anti -vaccine feelings.

This led to the partnership between Trump and Kennedy, the scion of a democratic political dynasty which now avoids its policy, and ultimately, the selection of the president of him as secretary of the HHS.

Earlier this year, Cassidy, president of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, openly recognized that he had struggled with the appointment of Kennedy. Cassidy ended up providing critical support to Kennedy after receiving insurance that he would not sow or damage the availability of vaccines. With the support of Cassidy, Kennedy advanced to the Senate, where he was confirmed 52-48. Kentucky Mitch McConnell Senator McConnell was the only republican to join all the Democrats to vote against Kennedy.

Senator Mark Warner, D-VA., Said that Kennedy had broken his promise to Cassidy and should resign.

“He completely opted against what he promised this committee and my friend Bill Cassidy,” Warner told journalists. “It’s a giant step back.”

Cassidy was one of the two republican doctors, as well as the whip of the majority of the Senate John Barrasso of Wyoming, which expressed his concern Thursday that Kennedy’s actions could have a negative impact on public health.

“For me, what is more important is that there are Republicans like Bill Cassidy, with medical diplomas, who are starting to call the question on madness that Robert Kennedy spit everywhere,” said Bennet, D-Colo., Reported journalists. “I just hope it will not be too late.”

Cassidy left the courtroom of the Senate finance committee after questioning Kennedy on Thursday and told journalists on several occasions that his exchange speaks for himself. When asked if he regretted his central vote to confirm Kennedy in this position, Cassidy did not respond before disappearing in an elevator.

In a few hours, Cassidy displayed his part of the hearing remarks on X, asking why Trump did not receive a Nobel for the speed of deformation of the operation.