--- title: "RFK Jr. tells vaccine group they have 'friend' in White House" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-group-they-have-friend-in-white-house" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-group-they-have-friend-in-white-house" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-group-they-have-friend-in-white-house.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-group-they-have-friend-in-white-house" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-18T19:46:20.997Z" source_reported: "2026-09-18T18:47:53.000Z" updated: "2026-09-18T19:46:20.997Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-18T19:45:39.671154+00:00" --- # RFK Jr. tells vaccine group they have 'friend' in White House *Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed a conference hosted by Children's Health Defense, a group he co-founded.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named body, but relies on anonymous sourcing and lacks specific dates/locations. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Quotes affected parties, separates fact from comment, and notes what happens next. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises more than the body delivers, with mild sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told the vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense that they have a "friend in the White House" in President Donald Trump. - Kennedy delivered the keynote address at a conference hosted by Children's Health Defense in Washington, D.C. - Children's Health Defense was co-founded by Kennedy, who resigned from the board before becoming HHS Secretary. - Dr. Fiona Havers stated that the group has spread false information contributing to declining vaccination rates, citing over 3,000 measles cases and four deaths this year. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told the vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense that they have a "friend in the White House" in President Donald Trump. Kennedy delivered the keynote address in Washington, D.C., at a conference hosted by the group. He stated that Trump had given directives to strengthen research, transparency, and parental choice regarding childhood vaccines. Kennedy also mentioned that he wished to implement broader changes sooner but was constrained by governmental procedures and the need to manage his agency competently according to law. Children's Health Defense, which advocates against the recommended vaccine schedule for children, was co-founded by Kennedy. He resigned from its board before his confirmation as HHS Secretary. The group described the conference as a "timely conversation [that] will take place against a backdrop of unprecedented opportunity and risk for the health freedom movement." Scheduled speakers also included Republican Sens. Ron Johnson and Rand Paul, and Republican Reps. Paul Gosar and Thomas Massie. Dr. Fiona Havers, an infectious diseases physician and former vaccine expert at the CDC, stated that Children's Health Defense has disseminated false and misleading information that has directly contributed to declining vaccination rates. Havers cited over 3,000 measles cases and four measles-related deaths reported in recent weeks. She told ABC News that Kennedy's appearance at the conference legitimizes the group's message and undermines efforts to control outbreaks. Kennedy told the audience that Trump asked him to "vigorously investigate the potential contribution of childhood vaccines to the chronic disease epidemic." Kennedy claimed that children now receive 94 doses of 18 vaccines, compared to three when he was a child. Doctors have stated that children typically receive about 30 vaccine doses before age 18, excluding annual flu and COVID-19 shots. Kennedy also raised questions about the potential association between some chronic illnesses and vaccines, particularly those that became epidemic after 1989. Extensive scientific research has shown no causal link between the MMR vaccine and chronic diseases. ## Disagreement on Trump's vaccine claims The Daily Mirror reported that President Trump has made unfounded claims that the vaccine scheme was dangerous and contributed to increased autism diagnoses. It also stated Trump suggested the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine could be lethal if given as a combined injection and called for it to be split into three separate shots. The WBAL report states that Trump has given directives to strengthen research, transparency, and parental choice around childhood vaccines, but does not attribute claims about vaccine danger or autism links to Trump. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific directives President Trump gave regarding strengthening research, transparency, and parental choice around childhood vaccines, as reported by WBAL. None of the centre-rated reports mention Andrew Wakefield's introduction of Kennedy at the conference or Kennedy's statement that he would remain anti-vaccine "as long as I am able," as reported by the Daily Mirror and We Got This Covered, respectively. The right-rated digest does not detail Dr. Fiona Havers' concerns about declining vaccination rates or the specific number of measles cases and deaths cited by other outlets. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 50% (5) - Centre: 40% (4) - Right: 10% (1) 6 of 16 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-18T19:45:39.671154+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-18T20:15:23.619Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports led on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. telling the vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense that they have a "friend at the White House" in President Donald Trump. These reports highlighted Kennedy's co-founding of the group and his prior leadership role. They also noted the timing of his speech, occurring amidst a rise in measles cases and deaths. The Daily Mirror reported that President Trump has made unfounded claims linking vaccines to autism and danger, and suggested splitting the MMR vaccine. The Daily Mirror also mentioned Andrew Wakefield, the former doctor whose research falsely linked the MMR vaccine to autism, as having introduced Kennedy at the conference. The Independent stated Kennedy told anti-vaccine activists they have a friend in the White House, from an organization he once chaired. We Got This Covered reported Kennedy vowed to be anti-vaccine "as long as I am able." Boston Globe noted it was Kennedy's first appearance at the Children's Health Defense conference since becoming secretary. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports focused on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. telling the vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense that they have a "friend in the White House" in President Donald Trump. These reports noted Kennedy delivered the keynote address at a conference hosted by the group in Washington, D.C. They mentioned that Kennedy co-founded Children's Health Defense and resigned from its board before becoming HHS Secretary. The reports also included Dr. Fiona Havers' statement that the group has spread false information contributing to declining vaccination rates, citing over 3,000 measles cases and four deaths this year. WBAL reported that Kennedy said Trump asked him to "vigorously investigate the potential contribution of childhood vaccines to the chronic disease epidemic." ### Right - The right-rated report from the Times of India led with a quote from Kennedy stating, "Kids are dying…" and that anti-vaccine activists have a friend in Trump's White House. The digest noted that Kennedy returned to the vaccine-skeptic organization he founded and used his keynote address to discuss vaccine safety and the Trump administration’s approach to vaccine policy. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 3 - high: 7 - unknown: 6 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Truthout](https://truthout.org/articles/you-have-a-strong-and-steadfast-friend-rfk-jr-tells-anti-vaxxers) — “You Have a Strong and Steadfast Friend at the White House,” RFK Jr. Tells Anti-Vax Group - [Delta Daily News](https://deltadailynews.com/health/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-skeptic-group-childrens-health-defense-they-have-a-friend-in-the-white-house) — RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense they have a 'friend' in the White House - [Deltaplex News](https://deltaplexnews.com/health-news/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-skeptic-group-childrens-health-defense-they-have-a-friend-in-the-white-house) — RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group Children’s Health Defense they have a ‘friend’ in the White House - [wsjm.com](https://wsjm.com/2026/09/18/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-skeptic-group-childrens-health-defense-they-have-a-friend-in-the-white-house) — RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense they have a 'friend' in the White House - [Northwest Newsradio](https://nwnewsradio.com/2026/09/18/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-skeptic-group-childrens-health-defense-they-have-a-friend-in-the-white-house) — RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense they have a 'friend' in the White House - [MyClallamCounty.com](https://myclallamcounty.com/2026/09/18/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-skeptic-group-childrens-health-defense-they-have-a-friend-in-the-white-house) — RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense they have a 'friend' in the White House - [WBAL](https://wbal.com/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-skeptic-group-childrens-health-defense-they-have-a-friend-in-the-white-house) — RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense they have a 'friend' in the White House - [SuperHits 103.7 COSY-FM](https://wcsy.com/2026/09/18/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-skeptic-group-childrens-health-defense-they-have-a-friend-in-the-white-house) — RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense they have a 'friend' in the White House - [MyCentralOregon.com](https://mycentraloregon.com/2026/09/18/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-skeptic-group-childrens-health-defense-they-have-a-friend-in-the-white-house) — RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense they have a 'friend' in the White House - [999ycountry.com](https://999ycountry.com/2026/09/18/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-skeptic-group-childrens-health-defense-they-have-a-friend-in-the-white-house) — RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense they have a 'friend' in the White House - [thepulseofnh.com](https://thepulseofnh.com/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-skeptic-group-childrens-health-defense-they-have-a-friend-in-the-white-house) — RFK Jr. tells vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense they have a 'friend' in the White House - The Pulse of NH - [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/kids-are-dying-rfk-jr-tells-anti-vaccine-activists-they-have-a-friend-in-trumps-white-house/videoshow/134337919.cms) — 'Kids are dying…': RFK Jr. tells anti-vaccine activists they have a friend in Trump’s White House - [Daily Mirror](https://mirror.co.uk/news/politics/rfk-anti-vaccine-friend-trump-37677577) — Robert F Kennedy Jr tells anti-vaccine group they have a 'friend at the ... - [We Got This Covered](https://wegotthiscovered.com/politics/rfk-jr-tells-antivaxxers-they-have-a-friend-in-white-house-says-he-cares-about-kids-dying-or-suffering-or-being-injured-by-vaccine-injuries) — RFK Jr tells antivaxxers they have a 'friend' in White House, says he cares about kids 'dying or suffering or being injured by vaccine injuries' - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/kennedy-anti-vaccine-conference-address-trump-b3052377.html) — RFK Jr. tells anti-vaccine activists they have a ‘friend in the White House’ - [Boston Globe](https://bostonglobe.com/2026/09/17/nation/kennedy-anti-vaccine-conference) — Kennedy tells anti-vaccine activists they have a friend in Trump’s White House - The Boston Globe ## Questions **What did Robert F. Kennedy Jr. say to the Children's Health Defense group?** Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told the vaccine-skeptic group Children's Health Defense that they have a "friend in the White House" in President Donald Trump. He delivered the keynote address at a conference hosted by the group in Washington, D.C. **What is Children's Health Defense?** Children's Health Defense is a group that advocates against the recommended vaccine schedule for children. It was co-founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who resigned from its board before becoming HHS Secretary. **What concerns have been raised about declining vaccination rates?** Dr. Fiona Havers stated that Children's Health Defense has spread false information contributing to declining vaccination rates. She cited over 3,000 measles cases and four deaths this year as consequences of this trend. **What did the Daily Mirror report about President Trump's claims on vaccines?** The Daily Mirror reported that President Trump has made unfounded claims that the vaccine scheme was dangerous and contributed to increased autism diagnoses. The outlet also stated Trump suggested the MMR vaccine could be lethal if given as a combined injection and called for it to be split into three shots. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-group-they-have-friend-in-white-house. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "RFK Jr. tells vaccine group they have 'friend' in White House", https://mediabias.news/politics/rfk-jr-tells-vaccine-group-they-have-friend-in-white-house