CNN host Jake Tapper didn’t hold back his skepticism after airing a video of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, suggesting that the U.S. government may have orchestrated the COVID-19 pandemic.
The video, uncovered by The Bulwark and aired Tuesday, shows Kennedy advancing conspiracy theories about the pandemic. Speaking at an event for his organization, the Children’s Health Defense, Kennedy said, “Many people argue that this pandemic was a ‘pandemic,’ that it was planned from the outset. It’s part of a sinister scheme. I can’t tell you the answer to that. I don’t have enough evidence. A lot of it feels very planned to me.”
Kennedy continued by warning about mechanisms of control created during crises: “If you create these mechanisms for control, they become weapons of obedience for authoritarian regimes no matter how beneficial or innocent the people who created them.” Returning to the live segment, Tapper reacted bluntly. “Okay, so I can tell you the answer to that. I have enough evidence, and that’s insane. That’s not what happened. Horrible.”
Tapper then turned to Republican strategist David Urban, a Trump supporter, questioning why the GOP is standing behind Kennedy, who is not a Republican. “He isn’t even a Republican,” Tapper pointed out, underscoring the puzzling nature of Trump’s choice. The discussion became heated as Urban and Kate Bedingfield, former White House communications director for Joe Biden, began speaking over each other, according to The Washington Post.
Bedingfield and Tapper both highlighted that Kennedy’s comments implicated Trump, who was president during the pandemic’s onset. Urban brushed off the criticism, deflecting to what he found humorous about Trump’s nominations, which include figures from across the political spectrum, such as Democrats Tulsi Gabbard and Kennedy, and even Elon Musk.
Kennedy’s controversial remarks and Trump’s decision to nominate him have reignited debates about vaccine skepticism and pandemic conspiracy theories. Critics argue that elevating someone with Kennedy’s track record on vaccine misinformation could undermine public trust in health institutions.
Tapper’s sharp response reflects growing concerns about how conspiracy rhetoric could influence key policy decisions under the incoming administration, as figures like Kennedy are positioned to wield significant influence over public health.