Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now serving as Health and Human Services secretary, has gone from viewing President Donald Trump as a shallow showman to praising him as a deeply empathetic leader, as the Washington Examiner reports.
Kennedy’s journey with Trump, from bitter rivalry to a powerful alliance focused on the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, took center stage during his recent appearance on the Tucker Carlson Show.
Back in the day, during Trump’s first term, Kennedy felt stung when a promised role to chair a vaccine safety study fell apart. He pointed fingers at pharmaceutical lobbyists, claiming they swayed key health agency appointments like the CDC. Talk about a bitter pill to swallow.
From rivals to unexpected allies
Fast forward to the 2024 campaign trail, and the tension was palpable. Trump didn’t hold back, branding Kennedy as “fake” and a “radical-left liberal.” Ouch — those are fighting words, even in the rough-and-tumble of politics.
Kennedy, for his part, wasn’t shy about critiquing Trump’s COVID-19 policies, slamming lockdowns and mask mandates as overreaches on personal freedom. He argued these measures marked some of the harshest restrictions on liberty in our nation’s history. That’s a bold stand for a man who once ran as a Democrat and later as an independent.
During his 16-month campaign, Kennedy pushed a message of unity, aiming to dial down political hatred and tackle chronic disease while exposing conflicts of interest between government health bodies and Big Pharma. It was a noble, if uphill, battle in a system rigged for two-party dominance.
Campaign suspended, partnership born
By August, Kennedy made the tough call to suspend his presidential bid and throw his support behind Trump. Facing steep odds as a third-party contender, he saw a chance to influence policy from within. Sometimes, pragmatism trumps idealism.
What changed his mind about Trump? An assassination attempt on the president shifted Trump’s perspective, leading him to tell Kennedy that tackling chronic disease would be “his legacy” if given another term. That’s a pivot that caught even a skeptic like Kennedy off guard.
In the fall, the two buried the hatchet, forming a tight alliance. Kennedy initially shaped ideas through a concept of a “unity government” before stepping into his current role as a top health official. Turns out, shared goals can mend even the deepest rifts.
Perception shift takes root
Kennedy’s take on Trump now? “I initially viewed Trump as a ‘bombastic narcissist,’” he admitted, only to flip the script by calling him “one of the most empathetic people I’ve met.” That’s quite the 180 for a man once burned by broken promises.
He doubled down, describing Trump as “encyclopedic, multidimensional, thoughtful,” even emotional over music and deeply moved by human suffering in conflicts like Ukraine. Kennedy noted Trump’s focus on the “little guy” in policy talks, whether it’s vaccines or Medicare. Who’d have thought we’d hear such praise from a former critic?
“Whatever you think about him, there’s a new feeling in America now that we’re back on the upswing again,” Kennedy said, echoing Trump’s own line that “the country is hot again.” If that’s not a rallying cry against the gloom of progressive overreach, what is?
Policy over personality
Now heading the nation’s most powerful federal health agency, Kennedy has cemented his spot in Trump’s inner circle. Their partnership isn’t just personal — it’s policy-driven, with a laser focus on making Americans healthier. That’s a mission conservatives can get behind, especially when bureaucracy often bloats rather than builds.
Reflecting on past betrayals, Kennedy recalled at a 2019 forum how Trump’s administration placed “pro-pharma” personnel in key roles, countering earlier promises. Yet, he’s moved past that grievance, betting on Trump’s renewed commitment. Forgiveness in politics? Now that’s a rare commodity.
Ultimately, Kennedy’s shift signals a broader truth: even in a polarized age, alliances can form when the stakes — such as national health and morale — are high enough. His words last fall resonate: “The only thing that will save our children and our country is if we choose to love them more than we hate each other.” Perhaps that’s the real legacy both men are chasing, and one worth watching as this administration unfolds.
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Author: Mae Slater
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