Trump’s long history of acquiring properties, planes, and even two presidential victories has been well documented, but he now counts a different kind of acquisition as one of his most valued: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a 71-year-old former Democrat who currently serves in his Cabinet.
Earlier this year, Trump proudly told donors, “I have a Kennedy,” referring to his health secretary. This remark, according to two people familiar with the event, highlighted the president’s pride in having someone from the famed Kennedy family working directly under his administration.
What makes this even more striking is that both men were once presidential rivals. Now, in Washington, they share an unusual partnership. Kennedy has been granted extensive freedom by the Trump White House to pursue his personal vision of restructuring the nation’s health system.
Within his first six months in office, Kennedy has used that authority to reshape agencies overseeing food, drugs, and other medical products that affect millions of Americans. He has pushed for limits on vaccine availability and advanced theories widely dismissed by health experts.
Among his most controversial actions is reviving an investigation into claims that vaccines are linked to autism, an idea long rejected by scientists. While such moves energize his supporters, they carry political risks for the administration.
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Trump’s Support for Kennedy
Despite pushback from Democratic lawmakers and even some Republicans, Trump has remained firmly behind Kennedy. GOP officials have privately worried that Kennedy’s strict stance on vaccines and public health could backfire during elections.
Still, Trump advisers argue that Kennedy’s appeal to independent voters could strengthen the party’s standing, just as it did during the last election cycle. Stephen Miller, a senior Trump aide, described Kennedy as “a crown jewel of this administration,” stressing his tireless efforts to improve public health and address chronic health challenges in the country.
Yet, Kennedy’s broad independence has occasionally created difficulties for the White House. Some Trump officials have expressed frustration with Kennedy’s chosen deputies, criticizing them for poorly handled policy rollouts and weak communication strategies.
One of the biggest controversies came with Kennedy’s decision to dismiss Susan Monarez, his newly confirmed CDC director. The move sparked questions from Republicans, with Senators Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski demanding explanations.
They warned that Monarez’s departure, coupled with other resignations at the agency, could erode public confidence. The CDC is expected to soon issue stricter guidelines on who should receive coronavirus vaccines.
MAGA activist Laura Loomer, who has pressured Trump officials in the past, attempted unsuccessfully to force the removal of Kennedy’s top aides. She described the Trump-Kennedy partnership as a deal made during last year’s campaign, when Kennedy ended his presidential run and endorsed Trump in exchange for the HHS position.
Partnership Built on Shared Goals
According to numerous Trump aides and advisers, the durability of the Trump-Kennedy bond goes beyond political strategy. Both men, close in age and experience, believe they share a mission to reshape America.
Trump had once considered bringing Kennedy into his first administration to lead a vaccine safety commission, but was persuaded otherwise by his team. The two reconnected during the last election, with Kennedy becoming a vocal campaign surrogate.
Trump later promised that, if reelected, Kennedy would have free rein to transform the health system. Trump’s anger toward the public health establishment intensified during the coronavirus pandemic, when he accused federal agencies of undermining his reelection.
His distrust of officials like Anthony Fauci aligned neatly with Kennedy’s own skepticism, giving them common ground. With MAGA voters already skeptical of the CDC, attacking federal health agencies has carried fewer risks. Trump allies now defend Kennedy’s aggressive moves as overdue corrections to a broken system.
Kennedy’s Independent Strength
Among Cabinet officials, Kennedy stands out for building his own political influence. Recent Gallup polling even placed his favorability above that of Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other top figures in the administration.
Some Democrats, including Colorado Governor Jared Polis, have praised Kennedy’s work in challenging powerful industries.
Prominent Trump allies have also embraced him. Stephen Bannon called Kennedy the “linkage” between Trump’s MAGA base and his health-focused movement, MAHA, describing the combination as potentially unbeatable.
Kennedy’s rise reflects Trump’s broader approach in his second term, where loyalty and alignment with MAGA priorities outweigh traditional Republican norms. His firing of Monarez led three CDC leaders to resign in protest, underscoring how disruptive his approach has been.
Kennedy has also put aside his own presidential ambitions, announcing he will not run in 2028 and choosing instead to focus on fulfilling his health reform agenda under Trump.
Even so, Kennedy has occasionally bent to White House wishes. He accepted Trump’s decision to withdraw Dave Weldon’s CDC nomination after senators signaled they would not confirm him. That retreat showed Kennedy’s willingness to compromise when necessary.
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Ongoing Debates Around His Role
Some allies, like Bannon, argue the White House should do more to defend Kennedy’s agenda. He urged Trump to use Truth Social to back Kennedy’s changes ahead of an upcoming Senate hearing, warning that critics could try to turn it into a campaign against him.
Bannon insisted the administration should instead highlight its data and research on vaccines to strengthen its case. Laura Loomer has continued her efforts to target Kennedy’s aides, accusing them of incompetence or disloyalty.
While she managed to remove one of his appointees temporarily, he was reinstated shortly afterward. Loomer acknowledged that Trump values loyalty and suggested that the president intends to honor his agreement with Kennedy.
Disrupting the Public Health System
Democrats and health experts are preparing to increase their opposition to Kennedy’s policies. Congressman Ami Bera, a physician, said his caucus is preparing messaging to show how Kennedy’s decisions could harm Trump supporters directly.
He hopes pressure from public opinion will force Trump either to restrain Kennedy or dismiss him. At the same time, conservatives who were initially suspicious of Kennedy’s past politics have grown to support him.
Heritage Foundation’s Roger Severino even compared Kennedy’s influence on health policy to Steph Curry’s influence on basketball, crediting him with reshaping the system under Trump’s mandate.
Within Trump’s team, Kennedy is also seen as approachable and personable. Former policy aide May Mailman described him as funny, kind, and willing to listen to even junior staff.
The White House itself has presented Monarez’s firing as a sign of strength, saying it proves the administration is willing to confront public health agencies directly.
Kennedy is now approaching his 200th day as health secretary, a milestone many critics doubted he would reach. Policy analyst Chris Meekins recently wrote that Kennedy appears secure in his role at least through the midterms, a sign that he has become firmly established in Trump’s Cabinet.
