Trump says RFK Jr. will investigate the discredited link between vaccines and autism: 'Somebody has to find out'
By: NBC News
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Dec. 8, 2024, 2:00 PM UTCBy Allan Smith and Aria Bendix
President-elect Donald Trump suggested that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his pick to run Health and Human Services, will investigate supposed links between autism and childhood vaccines, a discredited connection that has eroded trust in the lifesaving inoculations.
"I think somebody has to find out," Trump said in an exclusive interview with "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker. Welker noted in a back-and-forth that studies have shown childhood vaccines prevent about 4 million deaths worldwide every year, have found no connection between vaccines and autism, and that rises in autism diagnoses are attributable to increased screening and awareness. "If you go back 25 years ago," Trump claimed, "you had very little autism. Now you have it."
"Something is going on," Trump added. "I don't know if it's vaccines. Maybe it's chlorine in the water, right? You know, people are looking at a lot of different things." It was unclear whether Trump was referring to opposition by Kennedy and others to fluoride being added to drinking water.
Kennedy, the onetime independent presidential candidate who backed Trump after leaving the race, generated a large following through his widespread skepticism of the American health care and food system. A major component of that has been his false claims linking autism to childhood vaccinations. Kennedy is the founder of a prominent anti-vaccine activist group, Children's Health Defense.
The agency Trump has tasked him with running supports and funds research into autism, as well as possible new vaccines.
The debunked link between autism and childhood vaccines, particularly the inoculation against mumps, measles and rubella, was first claimed in 1998 by a British doctor who was later banned from practicing medicine in the United Kingdom. His research was found to be critically flawed and was subsequently retracted. Hundreds of studies have found childhood vaccines to be safe.
Autism diagnoses have risen from about 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 today, though researchers have pointed to increased screening and changing definitions of the condition as the basis for that rise. Scientists have found a strong genetic link to the complex disorder, with many risk factors occurring before birth or during delivery.
Trump, too, has for years suggested a link between autism and vaccines.
"Hey, look, I'm not against vaccines," Trump said during the interview with Welker. "The polio vaccine is the greatest thing. If somebody told me, 'Get rid of the polio vaccine,' they're going to have to work real hard to convince me. I think vaccines are — certain vaccines — are incredible, but maybe some aren't. And if they aren't, we have to find out. But when you talk about autism, because it was brought up, and you look at the amount we have today versus 20 or 25 years ago, it's pretty scary."
The comments are a shift from when Trump, after Kennedy's endorsement, said he would let him "go wild" on public health issues.
Trump added he thinks that "a lot of good things" are going to come from Kennedy's leadership. In the final stretch of the campaign, Kennedy held events under the "Make America Healthy Again" banner — a slogan he has used to promote issues like reducing pharmaceutical companies' influence on government agencies, combating chronic health issues among children and improving food safety.
"He's not going to upset any system," Trump said. "He's not looking to reinvent the wheel totally. But when you look at the numbers, we really don't have a very healthy country."
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In his NBC interview aired today, Trump agreed that all the concerning things about a new Trump administration are going to happen.
He also demonstrated personal grievances and basic ignorance.
Arent we a lucky country.
Our own ding a ling. Aren’t we blessed.
“He also demonstrated personal grievances and basic ignorance.”
In his obvious insecurities; every comment, every appointment, every decision is made in order to exact punishment.
This coming administration, with its indisputable intent, will be the ultimate test of our collective will to speak out and stand up to protect our nation. How it turns out is impossible to know, but the results will define the direction we’re headed for decades.
Like the coward that he is, in this new interview he says "retribution" will be in the hands of Pam Bondi and Kash Patel , suggesting it will be up to them.
What goes unsaid is that those two are well known suck ups and puppets of Trump.
“…suck ups and puppets of Trump.”
Plenty of those about in mirroring their self-serving leader.
There is an opportunity, however, in hoping an elected official; governor, congressperson, and/or senator, has the gumption to call out the coming excesses in every instance. And in doing so, perhaps establish a platform to merit a 2028 run…as the prospect of eight years with vance is truly terrifying.
And as the press will most certainly be threatened, it is imperative they collectively act to ensure that the truth continues to be heard.
Tough times ahead to be sure.
www.nbcnews.com /politics/donald-trump/trump-details-sweeping-changes-ll-carry-day-one-exclusive-interview-rcna182858
Trump details sweeping changes he’ll carry out on day one and beyond in an exclusive interview
By Peter Nicholas 11-14 minutes 12/8/2024
President-elect Donald Trump vowed to make immediate and sweeping changes after he takes office on Jan. 20, such as pardons for those convicted in the attack on the U.S. Capitol, and said he wants to find a legislative solution to keep Dreamers in the country legally.
In an interview with Kristen Welker, moderator of NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Trump also said he’ll work to extend the tax cuts passed in his first term. He said he will not seek to impose restrictions on abortion pills. He plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and try to end birthright citizenship. And he said the pardons for Jan. 6 rioters will happen on day one, arguing many have endured overly harsh treatment in prison.
“These people are living in hell,” he said.
Trump’s first postelection network television interview took place Friday at Trump Tower in Manhattan, where he spoke for more than an hour about policy plans Americans can expect in his next term.
Trump said he would fulfill a campaign promise to levy tariffs on imports from America’s biggest trading partners. In a noteworthy moment, he conceded uncertainty when Welker asked if he could “guarantee American families won’t pay more” as a result of his plan.
https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2024-12/241206-MTP-Welker-Trump-3-ew-454p-ee4689.jpg 1x" > https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2024-12/241206-MTP-Welker-Trump-3-ew-454p-ee4689.jpg 1x" >“I can’t guarantee anything,” Trump said. “I can’t guarantee tomorrow.”
Trump also said he will not raise the age for government programs like Social Security and Medicare and will not make cuts to them as part of spending reduction efforts led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Asked if “raising ages or any of that stuff” was “off the table,” Trump agreed, saying, “I won’t do it.”
Trump spoke in a calm, measured tone and at times sparred with Welker when she fact-checked him. He seemed heartened by the scope of his victory on Nov. 5. After winning the popular vote and capturing all seven of the key battleground states, he said with pride, “I’m getting called by everybody.”
He’s heard from Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post: “We’re having dinner,” he said.
“People like me now, you know?” he said, adding: “It’s different than the first — you know, when I won the first time, I wasn’t nearly as popular as this. And one thing that’s very important, in terms of the election, I love that I won the popular vote, and by a lot.”
‘Maybe he should’
Trump did segue into familiar grievances. He would not concede that he lost the 2020 election. Asked how, in his view, Democrats stole that election but not this one even though they control the White House, Trump said, “Because I think it was too big to rig.”
He blamed President Joe Biden for the nation’s political divide and heaped insults on perceived foes. Adam Schiff, the incoming Democratic senator from California, is “a real lowlife,” he said.
But he delivered something of a mixed message when it comes to political retribution. Trump made clear he believes he’s been wronged, but he also sounded a conciliatory note, saying he will not appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Biden. “I’m not looking to go back into the past,” he said. “Retribution will be through success.”
Good idea. Maybe scientists should investigate this. Oh wait, they have - hundreds of times.
If only we had a government agency tasked with policing the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Oh wait, we do.
People voted for this????
I swear, if a writer of fiction invented a character that was simultaneously this stupid, this narcissistic, and this insane, no intelligent person would find it plausible.
Trump cannot go more than 30 seconds without saying something stupid. This is America for the next four years.
The guy who tossed around the idea of bleach injections to fight Covid thinks chlorine causes autism. We should totally listen to him. /s
It has been investigated, repeatedly. There is no link
I've said it before but it bears repeating. The only two things politicians do well is waste time and waste money