Trump Presses Kennedy on Vaccine-Autism Research

President Donald Trump pressed HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a Camp David Cabinet meeting last month on autism research, The Dispatch reported, casting Trump as a driver of vaccine-skeptical policy.

At the televised meeting, Kennedy discussed drug pricing policies before Trump asked, "How are you doing on the autism research? Because that’s so important." Kennedy replied, "We will have an answer for you," and Trump added, "We’ll be talking about that—we’ll be having something of interest."

The Dispatch said the exchange followed The Wall Street Journal reporting that Trump had pushed Kennedy to do more to try to establish a connection between vaccines and autism and to reduce the number of vaccines children receive. Numerous studies over decades have found no link between vaccines and autism.

Several media outlets reported last Thursday that the White House is preparing a new executive order on childhood vaccines and autism, though details remain unclear. Senior White House advisers had earlier tried to slow Kennedy’s vaccine efforts over concerns about midterm polling, while a March court decision froze changes Kennedy had made to vaccine recommendations and the childhood schedule through the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Trump has said he supports some vaccines, including polio, but has argued for fewer or smaller childhood shots. In a May interview cited by The Dispatch, he said, "No, I believe in vaccines," while also saying, "Eighty-two is too many," and claiming smaller shots could produce "a much better result with the autism."