Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., Said the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The Ministry of Health and Human Services Leiden is ‘not SLAM -Dunk’, as the nominee of President Donald Trump works to strengthen support.
In an appearance on “Fox News Sunday”, ” Fetterman said he did that Twice with Kennedy met in his office and that, whatever his decision on the HHS -nominated state, it will be “an informed vision”.
“I have invested a lot of time to really understand his background and learn more about the man,” said Fetterman, adding: “I approached with an open mind and I looked at the hearing. And that’s how the process works.”
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Senator John Fetterman during the 60th presidential inauguration in the Rotunda of the American Capitol on January 20, 2025. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Asked if he has made a decision about whether he will vote for Kennedy “Yay” or “No”, Fetterman said he spoke with colleagues on both sides about the issue.
“It has certainly been a challenge. Absolutely. It is certainly not a slam -dunk for the nomination,” Fetterman told “Fox News Sunday” host Shannon Bream.
“I made an investment to really understand and talk all nominees, and I treated everyone with respect and I took the time to listen, and that is part of my bet,” he added.
Kennedy, a lifelong Democrat who has exchanged his presidential campaign against Biden to run as independent before he finally dropped From the race to back TrumpOn Wednesday, the Senate Financing Committee and the Health Committee brought through the Senate Financing Committee on Thursday. He is still confronted with a crucial committee and full voices of the Senate in his mission to lead 18 powerful federal agencies that supervise the food and health of the nation.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., testifies during a Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Capitol Hill, Thursday 30 January 2025. (AP Photo/Rod Lambey, Jr.)
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Most difficult questions and sparring about his views on vaccines, abortion, medicaid and other issues came from Democrats in the two committees, but Thursday’s hearing ended with the top republican on the health panel and said that he “struggled” with Kennedy’s nomination.
“Your past of undermining trust in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments are me worries,” said Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La., The nominee said.
The doctor from Louisiana, who is a crucial mood and who has expressed concern about the past of Kennedy about vaccines, early whether Kennedy ‘can be trusted to support the best public health’. The senator told Kennedy, who wants to lead to important health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicid Services, that “you may hear from me the weekend. “
Health and Human Services Secretary -Nominated Robert Kennedy Jr. Runs on January 9, 2025 to a meeting with Senator John Fetterman on Capitol Hill. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
Kennedy, whose pronounced views on the pharmaceutical and food industry have also fueled controversy, has said that he wants to shift the focus of the agencies that he would oversee in the direction of a healthy lifestyle, including the revision of guidelines to reach the root causes of chronic Diseases.
A strong pro-life lawyer, Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., said “Fox News Sunday” that he supports Kennedy, despite the earlier comments from the nominee and said that he was codified roe v. Wade and abortion “even if it is the full period.”
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“I am now okay to support RFK Jr. because I think he was dedicated to one in the course of the hearing Republican Pro-Life AgendaPresident Trump’s pro-life agenda, “said Graham when he was asked about those specific comments from the past of Kennedy.” So I will take him on his word. I feel comfortable with what he said about the pro-life problem. He has been a radical pro-choice as a person. But I really believe that as a secretary he will implement a pro-life agenda that will be pushed by President Trump. I will be a yes, but I will also keep an eye on every movement he makes. ”
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser has contributed to this report.
