RFK Jr. Spreads Health Misinformation in USA Today Interview, Critics Say

In a controversial interview with USA Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made several claims about public health issues that have sparked concern among medical experts and public health advocates.

The interview, which touched on topics ranging from vaccines to electromagnetic radiation, has renewed scrutiny of Kennedy’s scientific views and raised questions about his leadership at one of the nation’s most important health agencies.

Kayla Hancock, Director of Public Health Watch at Protect Our Care, criticized Kennedy’s statements, saying, “With RFK Jr, it’s prudent to assume his rhetoric is false or misleading until proven otherwise. It’s bold for Secretary Kennedy to claim with a straight face that he has never been anti-vaccine after years of peddling vaccine misinformation.”

In the interview, Kennedy claimed he has “never been anti-vaccine,” despite a documented history of statements questioning vaccine safety. In July 2023, during an appearance on Lex Fridman’s podcast, Kennedy explicitly stated, “There’s no vaccine that is safe and effective.” In 2021, he reportedly told a podcast on health freedom that he advises people with babies not to get vaccinated.

Kennedy’s past actions have had serious consequences. In 2019, he visited Samoa at the invitation of a local anti-vaccine advocate following an incident where two children died after a nurse’s error in mixing measles vaccines. Kennedy met with the Samoan prime minister and anti-vaccine activists. Months later, a measles epidemic broke out in Samoa, killing 83 people, mostly children and infants.

During the USA Today interview, Kennedy also expressed concerns about electromagnetic radiation from 5G towers, claiming they cause “cancer, tumor growth […] it opens your blood-brain barrier, DNA damage, many, many other bad effects.”

These claims contradict the scientific consensus. The World Health Organization has found “no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies,” while the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection has determined that 5G is safe. The National Cancer Institute at NIH has concluded that “the evidence to date suggests that cell phone use does not cause brain or other kinds of cancer in humans,” and the FDA stated in 2020 that “there are no quantifiable adverse health effects in humans caused by exposures at or under the current cell phone exposure limits.”

Experts note that misinformation about 5G has led to real-world harm, including attacks on telecommunications workers and infrastructure in several countries.

Kennedy’s comments on fluoride in drinking water have also raised alarms. He described fluoride as a “huge concern” that “reduces IQ,” claiming “we need smart people in this country.” However, major reviews and meta-analyses have found that fluoride at levels used in community water fluoridation is not associated with reduced IQ in children. A 2025 study published in Science actually found that “children exposed to recommended levels of fluoride in drinking water exhibit modestly better cognition in secondary school.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Dental Association continue to endorse water fluoridation as safe and effective, and the CDC promotes “the safety and benefits of community water fluoridation as an effective, cost-efficient method for preventing tooth decay and improving overall oral health.”

Kennedy also repeated unsubstantiated claims about pharmaceutical companies intentionally withholding cancer cures, though he acknowledged these were “anecdotal reports” he couldn’t verify. Critics point out that cancer research has actually suffered under the current administration, with a Senate Minority Staff report indicating approximately $2.7 billion in NIH funding cuts in the first three months of 2025 alone, including a 31% decrease in cancer research funding.

The secretary’s comments come at a time when public health agencies face unprecedented challenges in maintaining public trust and combating health misinformation. Medical experts worry that Kennedy’s statements could undermine confidence in established public health measures and scientific consensus on critical health issues.