RFK Jr. targets Fauci and pushes medical misinformation in fiery CNN interview
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. used a CNN interview to blame Dr. Anthony Fauci for pandemic lockdowns and promote debunked medical claims. The interview drew sharp criticism from former White House Covid coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, who labeled the claims as factually incorrect.
Why it matters
The clash highlights the growing tension between political leadership and scientific institutions regarding public health policy and the dissemination of medical information.
In attempting to rewrite the history of the US Covid-19 response, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Sunday pinned the blame for pandemic lockdowns on Dr. Anthony Fauci, while simultaneously reviving a string of debunked assertions about vaccines, RSV and measles. Kennedy’s appearance came in the wake of a congressional hearing with Fauci last week, when the infections disease expert invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination more than 100 times, as Republicans lambasted him for his role in handling the pandemic. Kennedy joined the chorus of criticism on CNN’s “State of the Union with Dana Bash,” saying President Donald Trump, who was in office at the beginning of the pandemic and notably downplayed the virus, was not to blame for the government’s response. “Trump, as you recall, wanted to end the lockdowns.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in