Kennedy allies rally as vaccine policies pose possible rift with Trump

WASHINGTON — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s aggressive moves to change vaccine policy — adopted by leaders at other federal health agencies — may be putting him at odds with President Trump himself.

Now Kennedy’s allies are rallying to support him, believing the coming weeks and months will be key to cementing the Make America Healthy Again agenda in Washington.

The latest flare-up centers on vaccine mandates. On Friday, asked about plans by Florida state officials to phase out all childhood vaccine mandates there, Trump struck a note of caution.

“I think we have to be very careful,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. 

“Look, you have vaccines that work. They — pure and simple — work,” he added, differentiating between vaccines he deems “controversial” and those that aren’t. “They are not controversial at all. And I think those vaccines should be used; otherwise, some people are going to catch it and they are going to endanger other people.” 

Kennedy has not yet weighed in specifically on the Florida move but he has a long history of opposing vaccine mandates. His administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mehmet Oz, had praised the recent announcement by Florida’s surgeon general, telling MAHA supporters on a call that the effort had only been made possible via “air cover” by Kennedy.