RFK Jr.'s Trust Pledge Backfires: Distrust Worsens

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, February 13th 2026 at 1:26 GMT by Seattle Times
      Locales: Washington, California, UNITED STATES

RFK Jr.'s Promise of Restoring Health Agency Trust: A Year of Worsening Distrust

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. entered the presidential race with a unique and ambitious pledge: to rebuild public trust in U.S. health agencies. He argued that these institutions - the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and others - have become fundamentally compromised, losing the confidence of the American people. However, one year into his campaign, the consensus among experts is overwhelmingly negative. Instead of restoring faith, Kennedy's persistent criticisms and promotion of unverified claims appear to be exacerbating the already significant erosion of trust in vital public health infrastructure.

Kennedy's appeal, while controversial, isn't appearing from a vacuum. It taps into a wellspring of skepticism that has been steadily growing for decades, dramatically accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and the overall handling of the crisis fueled anxieties and distrust in government pronouncements, creating fertile ground for alternative narratives. Many feel unheard or dismissed by the traditional medical establishment, and Kennedy positions himself as their champion. Brenda Thomas, a 58-year-old from Centralia, exemplifies this sentiment, stating, "I don't trust these big agencies. I think they're all in bed with the corporations." This feeling of disenfranchisement is a powerful motivator for his supporters.

However, the methods Kennedy employs to garner support are the very source of concern for public health officials. He frequently questions vaccine safety - a topic he has a long history with - challenges the government's response to the opioid epidemic, and asserts that regulatory agencies are overly influenced by pharmaceutical industry interests. While these concerns aren't wholly unfounded - acknowledging valid critiques of pharmaceutical lobbying and potential conflicts of interest within agencies is crucial - Kennedy often presents them alongside misinformation and unsubstantiated claims.

"He's certainly accelerated it," says Dr. Eric Rubin, a vaccine researcher at Harvard Medical School, referring to the declining trust. "I don't think he's restoring trust. I think he's fanning the flames of distrust." This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Saad Omer, an infectious disease specialist at Yale School of Public Health, who warns that Kennedy's rhetoric "is going to make it harder for us to respond to public health crises in the future." The implications are significant; a population distrustful of health advice is less likely to comply with crucial preventative measures, potentially leading to wider outbreaks and greater suffering.

The decline in trust isn't a new phenomenon. Gallup polls have tracked a steady decrease in public confidence in the CDC dating back to the 1990s. Several factors contribute to this, including increasing politicization of health issues, growing awareness of agency shortcomings, and the rise of misinformation online. However, the COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, rapidly accelerating the downward trend. The rapid pace of vaccine development, changing guidelines, and the politicization of mask mandates created confusion and suspicion.

Kennedy's campaign actively capitalizes on this pre-existing distrust, presenting himself as a voice for the marginalized and the skeptical. His rhetoric frequently casts him as an outsider fighting against a corrupt system. At a rally in New Hampshire last December, he declared, "I'm here to fight for you. I'm here to restore trust in the American health system." But, as Dr. Howard Bauchner, a former president of the American Medical Association, points out, Kennedy's actions often contradict his stated goals. Sharing misinformation and attacking the credibility of public health experts actively undermines the very institutions he claims to want to rehabilitate.

While some level of healthy skepticism towards institutions is vital for a functioning democracy, Kennedy's approach crosses the line into actively promoting harmful narratives. His campaign doesn't offer concrete solutions for how to restore trust, instead relying on broadly questioning the motives and expertise of established health professionals. This approach, while resonating with a specific segment of the population, risks further fracturing public health infrastructure and hindering the ability to effectively address future health crises. The long-term consequences of this erosion of trust could be devastating, potentially leaving the nation vulnerable to preventable diseases and exacerbating existing health inequalities. It remains to be seen whether Kennedy will shift his strategy, but for now, his campaign appears to be contributing to the very problem he pledged to solve.