GOP Lawmakers Not Enthused About RFK Jr.

Donald John Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, is an American businessman, media personality, and politician. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1968 with a degree in economics. In 1971, he took over his family’s real estate business, renaming it the Trump Organization, through which he expanded into building and managing skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump gained widespread fame as the host of the reality TV show *The Apprentice* from 2004 to 2015, which helped establish his public persona as a successful entrepreneur. Trump entered politics as a Republican and was elected the 45th president of the United States, serving from 2017 to 2021. His presidency was marked by significant policy actions including tax cuts, deregulation, the appointment of three Supreme Court justices, renegotiation of trade agreements (notably replacing NAFTA with the USMCA), and a focus on immigration control including border wall expansion. He withdrew the U.S. from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran nuclear deal, and engaged in a trade war with China. His administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was criticized for downplaying the virus’s severity. Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives—first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection—but was acquitted by the Senate both times. After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump challenged the results, culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He remains a central figure in American politics, having won the 2024 presidential election and returned as the 47th president in 2025, continuing to promote policies aimed at economic growth, border security, and military strength[1][2][3][4].

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (born January 17, 1954) is an American environmental lawyer, author, and politician serving as the 26th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services since February 2025. He is a member of the prominent Kennedy family, the son of Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S. Attorney General and senator, and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy began his career as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan in the early 1980s. After overcoming personal struggles with substance abuse, he shifted focus to environmental law, joining nonprofits such as Riverkeeper and the Natural Resources Defense Council. In 1987, he became an adjunct professor of environmental law at Pace University School of Law and founded Pace’s Environmental Litigation Clinic. In 1999, he founded the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global clean water advocacy organization, which grew into the world’s largest network of water protection groups. His environmental work earned him recognition including TIME magazine’s “Hero for the Planet” for his role in restoring the Hudson River. Kennedy has led successful lawsuits against major corporations like Monsanto and DuPont concerning environmental pollution. He also founded Children’s Health Defense, an organization focused on childhood health and environmental exposures. Kennedy’s career has been controversial due to his promotion of vaccine misinformation and conspiracy theories since 2005, including discredited claims linking vaccines to autism and promoting COVID-19 vaccine skepticism. These positions have drawn widespread criticism from public health experts. In the 2024 presidential election, Kennedy initially ran as a Democrat before running as an independent and later endorsing Republican Donald Trump. His appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Trump administration began in early 2025, marking his current role in public health policy. He has authored several books, including *The Riverkeepers* (1997), *Crimes Against Nature* (2004), and *The Real Anthony Fauci* (2021), reflecting his environmental and health advocacy. Kennedy is married to actress Cheryl Hines and has seven children from previous marriages[1][2][3][4][5][7].