President-elect Donald Trump has been busy appointing choice after choice to his Cabinet with some well-known picks, while some others have been more unorthodox.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could be considered both, and it is why Trump could have a tough time placing him in a position that requires confirmation from the Senate.
While Senate Republicans are willing to listen to Trump on any Cabinet choice, Kennedy’s prior stances on vaccines, his quizzical history with animals, and his unpopularity with Senate Democrats could prove to be significant roadblocks. At least one Republican senator will likely back the choice.
“I’ll support anybody President Trump nominates because I’m sure he’s vetting out and he deserves a team he should pick,” Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno of Ohio told Semafor. “There should be massive deference given to him.”
Kennedy has grown closer to Trump over the past few months. The former independent presidential candidate endorsed the former president and became a major player in his campaign.
“He’s going to help make America healthy again,” Trump said about Kennedy. “He’s a great guy, and he really means that he wants to do some things, and we’re going to let him go to it.”
But there has already been some resistance throughout the political atmosphere around Trump. His transition co-chairman, Howard Lutnick, told CNN that Kennedy is “not getting” a shot to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
More centrist Republicans, such as Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), have already shown skepticism about Kennedy.
“I have no idea whether he’s even going to be nominated for a Senate-confirmed position,” Collins said.
Kennedy would also have to submit in-depth information on his finances, which risks another scandal if something notable is found. He would also get grilled on his past vaccine skepticism.
It is unlikely that any Senate Democrat will vote for Kennedy’s confirmation, and while Republicans have a 53-seat majority, a trio of senators in Collins, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) are likely to be skeptical. If those three vote no, only one other GOP defection would be needed.
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Trump could skirt a Senate confirmation, possibly placing Kennedy in an advisory role, but it is likely that Kennedy will push for a real say in the administration.
“[Trump] asked me to end the chronic disease epidemic in this country,” Kennedy said on Nov. 2. “And he said, I want to see results, measurable results, in the diminishment of chronic disease within two years. And I said, ‘Mr. President, I will do that.’”