RFK Jr. insults autistic children with false claims while leading US health policy
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary (Photo: Getty Images)
At a press conference on April 16, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a series of false and deeply offensive remarks about children with autism, prompting backlash from medical experts, disability advocates, and journalists, reports USA Today.
Standing behind the official seal of the HHS, Kennedy claimed: "These are kids who will never pay taxes. They’ll never hold a job. They’ll never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem. They’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted."
His comments, both factually incorrect and dehumanizing, were met with swift condemnation.
Christopher Banks, president of the Autism Society of America, responded: "Claiming that autism is 'preventable' is not science-based and places unnecessary blame on people, parents, and families."
Eric Garcia, an autistic journalist, also wrote: "Even if they never create a single piece of art or simply exist, their life is not a tragedy. There would still be joy and value — because they are human beings."
Сonspiracy theorist at the helm of national health
Kennedy, who has no formal medical background, has spent years promoting debunked claims linking vaccines to autism.
During the briefing, he again asserted that autism is "a preventable disease" caused by unidentified environmental toxins.
However, scientists involved in the CDC report he cited directly contradicted him. "Autism is not an infectious disease. There aren’t preventive measures we can take," said Dr. Joshua Anbar of Arizona State University.
Despite widespread criticism of his anti-science stance, Republican leaders confirmed Kennedy as HHS Secretary in February 2025.
His appointment now casts a long shadow over US health policy, especially as he continues to undermine public trust in vaccines.
Just days before his autism remarks, Kennedy falsely claimed the measles vaccine offers only "short-term immunity" during a CBS interview, despite clear scientific evidence to the contrary.
As measles cases in the US rise to levels unseen since 2019, experts warn that Kennedy’s rhetoric is actively fueling a preventable public health crisis.
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