Gop Sen. Bill Cassidy Pits Rfk Jr. Against Trump On Vaccines

WASHINGTON — Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., grilled Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy on his skepticism of vaccines Thursday, arguing that his actions alert successful nan look of 1 of President Donald Trump's biggest achievements.

Cassidy opened his questioning astatine a Senate proceeding by asking Kennedy if he agrees Trump should get a Nobel Prize for nan improvement of nan Covid vaccine successful nan throes of nan pandemic during his first term, known arsenic Operation Warp Speed.

Kennedy replied quickly: “Absolutely, senator.”

Cassidy was skeptical.

“But you conscionable told Sen. [Michael] Bennet that nan Covid vaccine killed much group than Covid. That was a statement,” Cassidy said, adding that “it surprises maine that you deliberation truthful highly of Operation Warp Speed when, arsenic an attorney, you attempted to restrict access” to nan Covid vaccine.

Kennedy denied that he said nan vaccine killed much group than Covid, and offered to explicate why he conducted ineligible activity successful guidance to nan vaccine. But Cassidy was unimpressed, saying he had constricted clip and persisted pinch further questions.

Cassidy cited testimonials from a blimpish commentator that HHS actions are making it harder for immoderate Americans to get nan Covid vaccine, and from physicians worried that nan deficiency of guidance from HHS astir nan vaccine could create liability problems.

“I would say, effectively, we’re denying group vaccine," Cassidy told Kennedy during his questioning.

The different speech comes arsenic Cassidy walks a governmental tightrope. He's a expert and proponent of vaccines. But he's besides moving for re-election successful nan deep-red authorities of Louisiana, wherever he faces a situation from nan MAGA helping of nan party. Trump has not made an endorsement successful nan race.

Cassidy's strategy Thursday was to sound his skepticisms of Kennedy done nan connection of Trump's movement: by presenting them arsenic a measurement to show support for nan president and to protect his legacy.

Trump has a analyzable history connected nan matter. He took pridefulness successful nan Covid vaccine rollout during nan pandemic. But during his 2024 comeback campaign, Trump besides sought to transmission anger astatine nan government's consequence to Covid wrong his guidelines — including distrust of nationalist wellness officials that has translated into immoderate anti-vaccine sentiments.

That led to nan business betwixt Trump and Kennedy, nan scion of a Democratic governmental dynasty that now eschews his politics, and ultimately, nan president's action of him arsenic HHS secretary.

Earlier this year, Cassidy, nan chair of nan Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, openly acknowledged he struggled pinch Kennedy's nomination. Cassidy ended up providing captious support for Kennedy aft receiving assurances that he wouldn’t sow distrust aliases harm nan readiness of vaccines. With Cassidy's backing, Kennedy precocious to nan Senate floor, where he was confirmed 52-48. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was nan lone Republican to subordinate each Democrats successful voting against Kennedy.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said Kennedy collapsed his committedness to Cassidy and should resign.

"He has wholly gone against what he pledged to this committee and to my friend Bill Cassidy," Warner told reporters. "This is simply a elephantine measurement backwards."

Cassidy was 1 of 2 Republican doctors, on pinch Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming, who voiced interest Thursday that Kennedy's actions whitethorn negatively effect nationalist health.

"To me, what's much important is that location are Republicans for illustration Bill Cassidy, pinch aesculapian degrees, that are opening to telephone nan mobility connected nan insanity that Robert Kennedy is spewing each complete nan place," Bennet, D-Colo., told reporters. "I conscionable dream that it won't beryllium excessively late."

Cassidy near nan Senate Finance Committee proceeding room aft questioning Kennedy connected Thursday and told reporters respective times that his speech speaks for itself. Asked if he regrets his pivotal ballot to corroborate Kennedy to nan position, Cassidy didn't reply earlier disappearing into an elevator.

Within a fewer hours, Cassidy posted his information of remarks from nan proceeding connected X, asking why Trump hasn't received a Nobel for Operation Warp Speed.