Why 1,000 Health Experts Want RFK Jr. Out

A coalition of more than 1,000 American doctors, scientists, and public health officials released an open letter on Thursday urging major media outlets and social media companies to stop providing a platform to presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The group accuses Kennedy of repeatedly promoting medical misinformation, which they claim poses a direct threat to public health. The letter marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the scientific establishment and one of America’s most prominent anti-vaccine advocates.

The signatories, which include epidemiologists, pediatricians, and researchers from leading universities, specifically condemn Kennedy’s long-standing and debunked claims linking childhood vaccines to autism.“

These assertions are not a matter of opinion,” the letter states. “They have been conclusively disproven by decades of research.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has long maintained there is no scientific link between the two.

In a statement, Kennedy’s campaign called the letter a “coordinated attack by the pharmaceutical establishment” intended to silence a voice that threatens their profits.

The campaign argues that Kennedy is simply asking questions that legacy media and government agencies refuse to address, a message that resonates strongly with his supporters.

This clash is more than just a political dispute; it’s a symptom of a much deeper trust crisis in America. Recent studies from organizations like the Pew Research Center show a sharp decline in the public’s confidence in scientists, medical professionals, and government health institutions since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kennedy’s message finds fertile ground in this environment of skepticism,” said a sociologist at Georgetown University. “When people lose faith in institutions, they become more open to alternative narratives, regardless of the evidence.”

The open letter puts tech companies and news organizations in a difficult position. They are caught between their stated policies against spreading harmful misinformation and the principles of free speech, especially when the person in question is a candidate for the nation’s highest office. De-platforming Kennedy would invite accusations of censorship and political bias, potentially further energizing his base.

While the letter’s authors hope to curb the spread of what they see as dangerous falsehoods, the core issue remains unresolved. The conflict over RFK Jr. reveals a country deeply divided not just on politics, but on who to believe for basic facts about health and science.