Former CDC Director Robert Redfield has thrown his support behind Donald Trump, admitting to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that he “got everything right,” according to Kennedy himself.
Speaking at a forum on Monday night, RFK Jr. expressed his surprise at Redfield’s endorsement of Trump. Initially, Kennedy was taken aback by the news, as he had long been one of Redfield’s harshest critics.
However, Kennedy’s opinion shifted after a personal conversation with the former CDC chief. “Robert Redfield, who I really go after in my Fauci book, wrote an editorial in Newsweek today saying that he’s endorsing President Trump,” Kennedy said. Redfield, Kennedy explained, cited Trump’s potential to restore American health.
The surprise didn’t end there. Redfield revealed that Kennedy, not just Trump, was crucial in this restoration plan. Redfield stated, “He has chosen exactly the only person who can do this, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.”
This declaration left Kennedy astonished. “It was breathtaking to me because this is the guy who ran the CDC – the very person I’ve been criticizing for years – and this afternoon he came over and had lunch with me,” Kennedy shared. “The first thing he said to me was, ‘You got everything right.’”
The unexpected alliance between two men once at odds brings new energy to the conversation about health reform in the U.S. as we approach the 2024 elections.
In his Newsweek editorial, Redfield defended his endorsement, explaining that Trump is the one candidate with a concrete plan to address chronic disease in America’s children, an issue he believes is critical for the country’s future. Redfield pointed out that back in 2019, the Trump administration set the groundwork by investing in early interventions to tackle chronic disease. Now, five years later, Redfield argues, this issue has rightfully become a central topic in the presidential debate:
To heal our children, a president must see the possible and lead our nation to act. After more than 40 years in the public health arena, it might surprise some of my colleagues to know I think President Trump chose the right man for the job: Robert Kennedy, Jr.
Talk of healthcare reform often centers on cost to consumers. We know chronic disease is more than 75 percent of the country’s $4 trillion annual health care expenditure. Unfortunately, we have become a sick nation. We’re paying too much for chronic disease, and this must change. It’s time to make America healthy again.
Increasingly, it starts with our children. According to National Survey of Children’s Health, more than 40 percent of school-aged children and adolescents have at least one chronic health condition. Parents reported around 41 percent of children under 18 had “current or lifelong health conditions” when asked about 25 health conditions.
For instance, obesity in American children has increased dramatically since John F. Kennedy’s presidency, from around 4 percent in the 1960s to almost 20 percent in 2024. The causes of childhood obesity are complex, but a primary origin is clearly the modern American diet of highly processed foods.
Several factors are contributing to this increase in chronic health conditions among children and adolescents.
Poor Diet and Nutrition: Many children consume high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, often due to the prevalence of fast food, sugary snacks and processed meals. This leads to weight gain and associated conditions like diabetes.
Lack of Physical Activity: Sedentary lifestyles, driven by increased screen time, video games and reduced participation in physical education at schools, are contributing to childhood obesity and other health issues.
Environmental Factors: Exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants may also play a role in increasing chronic conditions in children, as these factors can affect growth and development.
Mental Health Stressors: Rising levels of stress, anxiety and depression among children, partly due to social media, academic pressures and family dynamics are contributing to both mental and physical ailments.
Socioeconomic Inequalities: Children from lower-income families often lack access to healthy food options, safe places to exercise and health care resources, making them more vulnerable to chronic conditions like asthma, obesity and others.
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