Bill Cassidy Who Voted To Confirm Rfk Jr Blasted For His Criticism Of Trump’s Vaccine Plan: ‘you Own This Mess’

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy — who was nan deciding ballot to corroborate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arsenic caput of nan Department of Health and Human Services — was blasted for criticizing nan Trump administration’s caller vaccine guidance.

On Monday, President Donald Trump met pinch Kennedy astatine nan White House to motion an executive bid that significantly alters national guidance for puerility vaccines, including by calling for less shots and for nan MMR vaccine to beryllium divided up into 3 abstracted doses.

“My management is recognizing golden modular puerility vaccine recommendations for only 11 halfway vaccinations against nan astir superior and vulnerable diseases,” nan president said during nan Oval Office ceremony earlier bringing up unsubstantiated theories astir a expected nexus betwixt vaccines and autism.

Soon after, aggregate aesculapian experts condemned nan executive order, including Dr. Andrew Racine, president of nan American Academy of Pediatrics, who said Trump’s announcement dispersed fearfulness and disorder successful an area wherever “there doesn’t request to beryllium immoderate of that.”

Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and gastroenterologist, besides publically registered his beardown disapproval.

“I’m a doctor. This executive bid is wrong. The President does not person nan expertise to make these changes,” he wrote connected X connected Monday. “Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe. Vaccines are effective. Vaccines DO NOT origin autism.”

“Breaking up vaccines will mean children person to get much shots to get nan aforesaid protection, not less shots. It will summation hesitancy and make children little safe,” Cassidy added. “Parents should perceive to their child’s pediatrician astir vaccines alternatively than listening to an inaccurate executive order. This is truthful wrong.”

The lawmaker’s station drew complete six cardinal views, and tens of thousands of comments — galore of which were sharply critical.

“Remember that clip you voted to corroborate a committed lifelong antivaxxer arsenic HHS Secretary?” responded Neil Stone, an infectious diseases doctor.

An X relationship called Republicans against Trump wrote: “You voted for RFK Jr. contempt knowing afloat good he’s an anti-vaxxer, conspiracy theorist crank…You ain this mess.”

Countless different akin comments poured in.

“Gee what if you had done thing erstwhile you had nan chance,” Clara Jeffrey, nan editor-in-chief of Mother Jones, wrote successful reply. Adam Kinzinger, a erstwhile Democratic congressman from Illinois, chimed in: “If only personification warned you.”

Cassidy, who practiced medicine for respective decades earlier his predetermination to nan Senate successful 2014, played a decisive domiciled successful confirming Kennedy arsenic HHS secretary successful February 2025.

Days up of nan vote, Cassidy announced that he would support Kennedy, a long-time vaccine skeptic, saying he had considered nan matter “exhaustively” and that he had been provided definite assurances astir nan early of vaccine policy.

“Mr. Kennedy and nan management reached retired seeking to reassure maine regarding their committedness to protecting nan nationalist wellness use of vaccination,” nan legislator said successful a February 4 level speech.

“I will cautiously watch for immoderate effort to wrongfully sow nationalist fearfulness astir vaccines betwixt confusing references of coincidence and anecdote,” he said. “But my support is built connected assurances that this will not person to beryllium a interest and that he and I tin activity together to build an schedule to make America patient again.”

Nine days later, Kennedy was confirmed to his station successful a 52–48 vote, pinch Cassidy voting successful favour of his nomination.

A akin business unfolded earlier this month. Cassidy, who is up for re-election this twelvemonth successful a authorities that Trump won handedly successful 2024, announced past week that he would support acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation.

The Louisiana lawmaker had antecedently raised concerns astir Blanche, Trump’s erstwhile individual attorney, including complete nan “weaponization” of nan Justice Department.

“Mr Blanche is not perfect, and he will show you this, but nan prime is not betwixt perfection and Mr Blanche,” Cassidy told nan Senate level arsenic he backed nan U.S. acting lawyer general. “It is betwixt Mr Blanche and different acting lawyer wide who whitethorn not tally nan section efficaciously nether President Trump and who so whitethorn not beryllium arsenic bully arsenic Mr Blanche.”

Blanche was confirmed past week successful a 50-49 vote.