Robert F Kennedy Jr, a distinguished proponent of debunked public well being claims whom Donald Trump has promised to place answerable for well being initiatives, mentioned Saturday that the previous president would push to take away fluoride from ingesting water on his first day in workplace if elected.
Fluoride strengthens tooth and reduces cavities by changing minerals misplaced throughout regular wear-and-tear, based on the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. The addition of low ranges of fluoride to ingesting water has lengthy been thought of one of many biggest public well being achievements of the final century.
Kennedy made the declaration Saturday on Twitter/X alongside quite a lot of claims concerning the heath results of fluoride.
“On January 20, the Trump White Home will advise all U.S. water techniques to take away fluoride from public water,” Kennedy wrote. Trump and his spouse, Melania Trump, “wish to Make America Wholesome Once more”, he added, repeating a phrase Trump usually makes use of and hyperlinks to Kennedy.
Trump instructed NBC Information on Sunday that he had not spoken to Kennedy about fluoride but, “but it surely sounds OK to me. You recognize it’s doable.”
The Republican nominee declined to say whether or not he would search a cupboard function for Kennedy, a job that might require Senate affirmation, however added: “He’s going to have an enormous function within the administration.”
Requested whether or not banning sure vaccines can be on the desk, Trump mentioned he would discuss to Kennedy and others about that. Trump described Kennedy as “a really proficient man and has robust views”.
The sudden and surprising weekend social media put up evoked the chaotic policymaking that outlined Trump’s White Home tenure, when he would challenge coverage declarations on Twitter at nearly all hours. It additionally underscored the issues many specialists have about Kennedy, who has lengthy promoted debunked theories about vaccine security, having affect over US public well being.
In 1950, federal officers endorsed water fluoridation to stop tooth decay, and continued to market it even after fluoride toothpaste manufacturers hit the market a number of years later. Although fluoride can come from a variety of sources, ingesting water is the primary supply for Individuals, researchers say.
Officers lowered their suggestion for ingesting water fluoride ranges in 2015 to deal with a tooth situation known as fluorosis, that may trigger splotches on tooth and was turning into extra frequent in US children.
In August, a federal company decided “with average confidence” that there’s a hyperlink between larger ranges of fluoride publicity and decrease IQ in children. The Nationwide Toxicology Program based mostly its conclusion on research involving fluoride ranges at about twice the really useful restrict for ingesting water.
A federal choose later cited that research in ordering the US Environmental Safety Company (EPA) to additional regulate fluoride in ingesting water. US district choose Edward Chen cautioned that it’s not sure that the quantity of fluoride sometimes added to water is inflicting decrease IQ in children, however he concluded that mounting analysis factors to an unreasonable threat that it may very well be. He ordered the EPA to take steps to decrease that threat, however didn’t say what these measures needs to be.
In his X put up Saturday, Kennedy tagged Michael Connett, the lead legal professional representing the plaintiff in that lawsuit, the environmental advocacy group Meals & Water Watch.
after e-newsletter promotion
Kennedy’s anti-vaccine group has a lawsuit pending in opposition to information organizations together with the Related Press, accusing them of violating antitrust legal guidelines by taking motion to determine misinformation, together with about Covid-19 and Covid-19 vaccines. Kennedy is on go away from the group however is listed as one among its attorneys within the lawsuit.
What function Kennedy would possibly maintain if Trump wins on Tuesday stays unclear. Kennedy not too long ago instructed NewsNation that Trump requested him to “reorganize” companies together with the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, the Meals and Drug Administration and a few companies beneath the Division of Agriculture.
However for now, the previous impartial presidential candidate has turn into one among Trump’s high surrogates. Trump regularly mentions having the assist of Kennedy, a scion of a Democratic dynasty and the son of former legal professional normal Robert Kennedy and nephew of John F Kennedy.
Kennedy traveled with Trump on Friday and spoke at his rallies in Michigan and Wisconsin.
Trump mentioned Saturday that he instructed Kennedy: “You’ll be able to work on meals, you’ll be able to work on something you need” besides oil coverage.
“He needs well being, he needs ladies’s well being, he needs males’s well being, he needs children, he needs every thing,” Trump added.
Supply hyperlink
