Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump attend a marketing campaign occasion sponsored by conservative group Turning Level USA, in Duluth, Georgia, U.S., October 23, 2024.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
Former president Donald Trump mentioned Sunday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s proposal to take away fluoride from the U.S. water system “sounds okay” to him, a place that runs counter to the recommendation of public well being businesses.
“Effectively, I have not talked to him about it but, but it surely sounds okay to me. You recognize it is potential,” Trump mentioned in an interview with NBC Information’ Dasha Burns, when requested about Kennedy’s proposition.
Kennedy posted on X Saturday, “On January 20, the Trump White Home will advise all U.S​. water programs to take away fluoride from public water.”
Trump additionally mentioned Kennedy would have an enormous function crafting public well being coverage in any Trump administration.
Fluoride is of course occurring in nearly all water sources, and a few is added to public water to assist stop cavities, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
“The protection and advantages of fluoride are nicely documented and have been reviewed comprehensively by a number of scientific and public well being organizations,” reads a submit on the CDC web site.
The American Dental Affiliation says that 70 years of analysis backs up the security and efficacy of including fluoride to water, a course of often called group water fluoridation.
The Trump marketing campaign didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s request for touch upon the fluoride comment.
Kennedy can also be a well-known vaccine skeptic, who has helped unfold false conspiracy theories about public well being. Requested by NBC Information whether or not “banning sure vaccines could be on the desk” if Trump had been president and Kennedy was in his administration, Trump left the door open.
“Effectively I’ll discuss to him and discuss to different individuals, and I will decide, however he is a really proficient man and has robust views,” mentioned Trump.
The science on fluoride and water fluoridation is evident. However Trump’s doubts and the questions they may elevate for voters about what public well being would possibly appear to be in a Trump White Home underscore a critical problem for the Trump marketing campaign in its last days: Staying on message.
Final weekend, insult comic Tony Hinchcliffe referred to as Puerto Rico a “floating island of rubbish,” which the Trump marketing campaign distanced itself from.
These feedback dominated the information cycle for a number of days, till President Joe Biden appeared to name Trump supporters “rubbish,” earlier than later saying that was not what he meant.
Republicans argue that voters aren’t listening to each controversial assertion from Trump and his allies this week, and as a substitute centered on the larger points within the race.
“Voters in Michigan and Ohio and Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and Georgia and North Carolina are all speaking about crime and unemployment,'” mentioned Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday.
“They’re speaking concerning the border. They’re speaking about 70,000 People shedding their lives to fentanyl. They don’t seem to be speaking about fluoride.”
