Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known advocate of debunked public health claims, stated on Saturday that former President Donald Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office if elected. Trump has promised to appoint Kennedy to oversee health initiatives.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear-and-tear. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been regarded as one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.
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Kennedy made his declaration on Twitter/X, where he shared various claims regarding the health effects of fluoride. “On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water,” Kennedy wrote. He added that Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, “want to Make America Healthy Again,” echoing a phrase often associated with Trump and linked to Kennedy.
In a Sunday interview with NBC News, Trump acknowledged he had not yet discussed fluoride with Kennedy, but stated, “it sounds OK to me. You know it’s possible.” The Republican nominee refrained from commenting on whether he would seek a cabinet position for Kennedy, which would require Senate confirmation, but added, “He’s going to have a big role in the administration.”
When asked if banning certain vaccines would be on the agenda, Trump indicated he would consult with Kennedy and others on the matter, describing Kennedy as “a very talented guy and has strong views.”
Kennedy’s unexpected weekend social media post recalled the chaotic policymaking style that characterized Trump’s previous administration, during which Trump often issued policy declarations on Twitter at all hours. This incident has raised concerns among experts regarding Kennedy’s potential influence over US public health, given his history of promoting debunked theories about vaccine safety.
In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, a practice they continued to promote even after fluoride toothpaste became widely available. Although fluoride can originate from various sources, drinking water is the primary source for most Americans, according to researchers.
In 2015, officials lowered their recommendation for drinking water fluoride levels to address a condition called fluorosis, which can cause discoloration on teeth and has become more common among US children.
In August, a federal agency concluded “with moderate confidence” that there is a link between higher fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children. This determination was made by the National Toxicology Program based on studies involving fluoride levels about twice the recommended limit for drinking water.
A federal judge later referenced that study when ordering the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further regulate fluoride in drinking water. US District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it is uncertain whether the amount of fluoride typically added to water is responsible for lower IQ levels in children, but he acknowledged that increasing research indicates an unreasonable risk that it could be. He instructed the EPA to take measures to reduce that risk, though he did not specify what those measures should be.
In his X post on Saturday, Kennedy tagged Michael Connett, the lead attorney representing the plaintiff in the lawsuit, from the environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch.
Kennedy’s anti-vaccine organization is currently involved in a lawsuit against news organizations, including the Associated Press, alleging violations of antitrust laws due to their actions to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and its vaccines. Although he is on leave from the group, he is listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit.
The specific role Kennedy might hold if Trump wins on Tuesday remains unclear. Recently, Kennedy told NewsNation that Trump had asked him to “reorganize” agencies such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and some agencies under the Department of Agriculture.
For now, however, the former independent presidential candidate has become one of Trump’s top surrogates. Trump frequently highlights his support from Kennedy, a member of a prominent Democratic family, being the son of former Attorney General Robert Kennedy and nephew of John F. Kennedy.
Kennedy traveled with Trump on Friday and spoke at his rallies in Michigan and Wisconsin.
On Saturday, Trump remarked that he told Kennedy: “You can work on food, you can work on anything you want” except oil policy. “He wants health, he wants women’s health, he wants men’s health, he wants kids, he wants everything,” Trump added.
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