DeSantis Suggests RFK Jr. Lead FDA or CDC

Amidst changes within the DeSantis campaign, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is entertaining what a DeSantis administration could look like. During an interview, Governor DeSantis mentioned that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (D) could be part of his administration.

DeSantis and his campaign have highlighted the Governor’s views on COVID-19. DeSantis pushed back against mandates, calling them tyrannical. Should he be elected president, he says that he would like other individuals with similar views to be part of his administration.

This could include the likes of RFK Jr.

RFK Jr., since announcing his presidential aspirations, has faced criticism over his views regarding COVID-19 and the subsequent vaccines that were mandated across the country. He has spoken extensively against the vaccine mandates, and he argues that the government could’ve taken a different approach to combat the pandemic.

During an interview with Clay Travis on OutKick, Governor DeSantis expressed that he generally aligns with RFK Jr.’s conservative views on the policies enacted during the pandemic. Because of this, Governor DeSantis suggested that RFK Jr. could join his administration as the head of the CDC or FDA.

When asked if Governor DeSantis would pick RFK Jr. as his running mate, DeSantis said “if you’re president, sic him on the FDA if he’d be willing to serve. Or sic him on CDC,” adding that “in terms of being veep, if there’s 70 percent of the issues that he may be averse to our base on, that just creates an issue.”

DeSantis immediately received pushback for suggesting that RFK Jr. lead the CDC or FDA.

Vice President Mike Pence (R) took to X to respond to DeSantis’ comments, criticizing RFK Jr. as a possible candidate. “When I am President, I will only consider Pro-Life Americans to lead FDA, CDC, or HHS,” Pence affirmed, adding that “to be clear, pro-abortion Democrats like RFK Jr. would not even make the list.”