Robert F Kennedy Jr says Donald Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water
The Hindu
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports removing fluoride from drinking water, a controversial move backed by Donald Trump.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent proponent of debunked public health claims whom the Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to put in charge of health initiatives, said on Saturday (November 2, 2024) that Mr. Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office.
Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.
Mr. Kennedy made the declaration on the social media platform X alongside a variety of claims about the health effects of fluoride.
“On January 20, the Mr. Trump White House will advise all U.S.? water systems to remove fluoride from public water,” Mr. Kennedy wrote. Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, “want to make America healthy again,” he added, repeating a phrase Mr. Trump often uses and links to Mr. Kennedy.
It was not clear if Mr. Kennedy discussed Saturday's (November 2, 2024) post with Mr. Trump or his aides. The Trump campaign did not answer directly, and a spokesperson for Mr. Kennedy did not respond when asked.
“While President Trump has received a variety of policy ideas, he is focused on Tuesday’s (November 5, 2024) election,” Danielle Alvarez, Trump campaign senior advisor, said.
But the sudden and unexpected weekend social media post evoked the chaotic policymaking that defined Mr. Trump's White House tenure, when he would issue policy declarations on Twitter at virtually all hours. It also underscored the concerns many experts have about Kennedy, who has long promoted debunked theories about vaccine safety, having influence over U.S. public health.
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