During a contentious exchange with Democratic Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—admitted that he "probably" spread a bonkers conspiracy theory about Lyme disease.
Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted through the bite of infected ticks that affects more than 400,000 Americans each year, can manifest in a range of symptoms that evolve over time. In its early stages, the hallmark sign is a distinctive rash known as erythema migrans (EM).
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If left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to its second stage, known as early disseminated Lyme disease, bringing more severe complications. These may include multiple rashes across the body, neuropathy, paralysis of facial muscles (Bell’s palsy), and heart block, which disrupts the heart’s electrical signals.
Months to a year after infection, untreated Lyme disease can result in chronic and debilitating symptoms. Recurring episodes of arthritis, particularly in large joints such as the knees, are common. In severe cases, cognitive function suffers and widespread nerve damage can impact the skin, muscles, and internal organs, leading to lasting health complications.
All of this is to say that the disease is no laughing matter—not that this has stopped Kennedy, who was forced to admit that he did, in fact, claim in the past that Lyme disease is a military "bioweapon."
After grilling Kennedy over his old claim that COVID-19 was genetically engineered to target Black people while sparing the Chinese and Ashkenazi Jews—Kennedy denied he said the coronavirus "deliberately targeted" people—Bennet went on:
"I'll take that as a yes, I have to move on. Did you say that Lyme disease is highly likely a materially engineered bioweapon? I've made sure to put in the 'highly likely.' Did you say Lyme disease is a 'highly likely' militarily engineered bioweapon?"
Kennedy replied:
"I probably did say that."
When Kennedy tried to talk over him, Bennet cut him off:
"I want my colleagues to hear it, Mr. Kennedy. You said yes."
According to a fact sheet published last week by welfare nonprofit Protect Our Care, Kennedy "has claimed that the tick-borne illness is a military bioweapon and blamed vaccine research for creating the disease":
"There is still no vaccine for Lyme disease, in part due to the same misinformation pushed by Kennedy about vaccines supposedly causing the illness."
"Lyme disease is a serious illness with cases primarily concentrated in New England that impacts nearly 500,000 people every year. ... Kennedy’s bizarre stances about a serious disease that impacts thousands of Americans annually demonstrate the real threat he poses to public health."
The organization pointed out that Kennedy made the following remarks during an episode of his podcast dedicated to discussing his Lyme disease conspiracy theory:
“Another thing that keeps us from enjoying the outdoors and keeps us locked inside and the idea that this may have been, is highly likely to have been a military weapon, and we cannot say 100 percent for sure, but we do know that they were experimenting with ticks there."
"The ticks, as you show, are an epidemic because of what happened at Plum Island and the other labs. […] We also know that they were experimenting with diseases of the kind, like Lyme disease, at that lab, and they were putting them in ticks and then infecting people."
So irresponsible and dangerous was Kennedy's conspiracy theory that The American Lyme Disease Foundation was forced to respond and debunk it:
“Some claim that Lyme disease was introduced into the northeastern region of the U.S. by a man-made strain of Borrelia burgdorferi that escaped from a high containment biological warfare laboratory on Plum Island."
"However, there is ample evidence to indicate that both Ixodes ticks and B. burgdorferi were present in the U.S. well before the Plum Island facility was ever established.”
Kennedy was harshly criticized—and many pointed out that this is just another indication of how unfit he is to lead the country's health department.
Kennedy hedged on other questions from Bennet, notably one about abortion rights that prompted Bennet to issue the following rebuke:
"This matters! It doesn’t matter what you come here and say that isn’t true, that is not reflective of what you really believe."
"That you haven’t said over decade after decade after decade, because unlike other jobs we are confirming around this place, this is a job where it is life and death. ... It is too important for the games that you are playing, Mr. Kennedy.”
The possibility of Kennedy assuming any senior government role has raised significant concern among public health leaders and federal employees, who argue he should not have access to the nation's public health infrastructure.
For instance, as a prominent anti-vaccine activist, Kennedy has spent years lobbying lawmakers globally, including in Samoa during a deadly 2019 measles outbreak that claimed the lives of dozens of children. While Kennedy’s representatives have denied that he is anti-vaccine, Kennedy has also denied involvement in the Samoa measles crisis.
Kennedy has faced staunch opposition even from members of his own family. His cousin Caroline Kennedy, who previously served as a U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan and is the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, condemned him in a letter to the Senate, saying his views on vaccines alone are disqualifying.
Kennedy now “preys on the desperation of parents of sick children,” she told senators, noting his hypocrisy because he's vaccinated his own children even while encouraging others not to do the same for theirs.
