Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health and human services secretary, has denied planning a 2028 presidential run after conservative influencer Laura Loomer accused his aide of laying groundwork for a campaign. In a social media post, Kennedy called the claim a 'flat-out lie' and pledged loyalty to President Donald Trump.
Loomer, known as 'Trump's Rasputin', had expressed concern in a Politico interview that Stefanie Spear, a top Kennedy aide, was trying to use her position to prepare for a future Kennedy bid. Loomer's pressure campaigns have previously led to the removal of Trump administration officials, including customs chief Monte Hawkins and FDA vaccine regulator Vinay Prasad.
Kennedy responded on Friday, stating he is not running in 2028. 'My loyalty is to President Trump and the mission we’ve started,' he wrote on X. He defended Spear as a 'fierce, loyal warrior' for the Make America Healthy Again agenda.
A White House official told Politico they would not be surprised if Kennedy were considering a run, but added they did not think it was a real threat. Kennedy, 71, ran for the Democratic nomination in 2024 before switching to independent and later backing Trump, who appointed him to the cabinet.
Kennedy's denial comes amid tensions with Loomer, who views his vaccine scepticism as left-leaning. The HHS has recently halted $500m in mRNA vaccine research and revived a childhood vaccine safety taskforce, despite vaccine injuries being extremely rare.
