What Florida’s surgeon general and Trump’s HHS pick have in common
25 November 2024
Dr. Joseph Ladapo talks to reporters after the Florida Senate confirmed him as state surgeon general on Feb. 23, 2022. (Photo by Imani Thomas/Florida Phoenix)
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, share commonalities that spark controversy, including vaccine skepticism, conspiracy theories, and challenges to public health norms.
In an announcement that sent shockwaves through Washington, Trump tapped Kennedy for a top federal health position, responsible for overseeing the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others.
Gov. Ron DeSantis had recommended that Ladapo serve as the chief health official in Trump’s administration. A day after Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, DeSantis took to X, formerly Twitter, to encourage users to spread the word.
“Retweet if you’d like to see this man — Dr. Joseph Ladapo — serve as the Secretary of HHS in the new Trump administration,” the Republican governor wrote, posting an image of Ladapo.
Both Ladapo and Kennedy have faced criticism not only for pushing conspiracy theories but also for questioning COVID-19 vaccines, which have curbed spread of the deadly virus that has claimed millions of lives.
After Kennedy dropped out of the presidential race and later endorsed Trump, the president-elect promised to let Kennedy “go wild on health.”
“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump wrote on X, announcing Kennedy as his nominee for HHS secretary.
“Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!”
Although Kennedy’s nomination has drawn national scrutiny, Ladapo’s own track record in Florida offers insight into the challenges ahead.
Gaetz and Kennedy’s fate
As it stands, it’s uncertain whether the U.S. Senate will confirm Kennedy.
Even though the anti-vaccine nominee has the advantage with Republicans controlling the Senate following the 2024 elections, some GOP members have raised concerns about Kennedy leading HHS.
Another controversial Trump Cabinet pick was former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, nominated for attorney general. Before Gaetz withdrew in the face of multiple allegations of illicit drug use and sexual relations with underage women, Charles Bullock III, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, tied Kennedy’s fate to Gaetz’s.
“The test of whether the Senate is willing to reject Trump nominees will come on Matt Gaetz,” Bullock told the Florida Phoenix. “If Gaetz is confirmed, then RFK Jr. and all of the others will also be approved.”
“If Gaetz is rejected, then it is possible that some other nominations may also be in jeopardy,” Bullock continued. “Who would be the most vulnerable? Hard to say, but RFK might fail to clear the bar because of his previous stands favoring access to abortion which could cost him some GOP support coupled with his anti-vax stands that will hurt him with Dems.”
Vaccine skeptics face confirmation challenges
Kennedy has been a vocal critic of COVID vaccines, spreading misinformation about their safety and effectiveness. Another vaccine skeptic, Ladapo, has also long been known for his pushback against COVID vaccinations.
Ladapo, who heads the Florida Department of Health, has faced criticism for spreading misinformation about COVID shots. His agency even published guidance recommending against vaccinating children.
In a phone conversation with the Phoenix, Dr. Jeffrey Goldhagen opined that Ladapo “should not be surgeon general of the state of Florida” because “his background and skill set are not relevant to a public health position.”
“Dr. Ladapo has spread lies, misinformation on scientific information about vaccines, not just COVID, but also other vaccines as well,” said Goldhagen, professor of pediatrics at the University of Florida College of Medicine (where Ladapo holds a teaching position).
“And so, the impact of his policies and Gov. DeSantis’ policies have been devastating in the state. In particular, the policies related to COVID vaccines resulted in the deaths and suffering of thousands of people in Florida.”
It wasn’t an easy path to becoming the state’s top health official, as Ladapo faced a tough confirmation process. While many Florida Democrats publicly lambasted Ladapo, he was confirmed by the Florida Senate in the Republican-led Legislature in 2022.
Ladapo was confirmed again in 2023 for a second term; every Democrats in the Senate voted against him.
Considered a polarizing figure, Kennedy is also expected to face a challenging confirmation process, as some critics believe his divergence from mainstream medical advice could threaten public health.
As for conspiracy theories, Kennedy has claimed that COVID-19 could have been “ethnically targeted” to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people, a statement he later said was taken out of context, according to The Associated Press.
Kennedy has even “repeated the debunked claim that childhood vaccines cause autism,” according to KFF Health News, notwithstanding extensive research refuting the link between vaccines and autism. And the former independent presidential candidate founded Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group.
Ladapo has opposed mask mandates, warned young men against COVID vaccines, and appeared on X22 Report, a far-right podcast known for spreading QAnon-related conspiracy theories and misinformation, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
If confirmed, both Ladapo and Kennedy could simultaneously lead top health agencies, raising questions about public health in Florida and the broader implications for future health policy in the nation.
“It’s a dangerous situation at the current time, potentially to get more dangerous under an RFK [Jr.] administration,” Goldhagen said.
Vaccine hesitancy
Ladapo’s stance on public health has contributed to increased vaccine hesitancy in Florida, leading to an overall drop in routine childhood vaccination rates and even a measles outbreak, according to Goldhagen.
And it “will actually get worse” if Kennedy is confirmed as HHS secretary, Goldhagen warned.
In the two years before Ladapo took office, the vaccination rate had been dropping slightly each year, according to an NPR report. After his appointment, it dropped nearly by 3% in two years.
“It’s demonstrated that he [Ladapo] is willing to disseminate misinformation about vaccines that have in part resulted in the decrease in vaccination,” Goldhagen said.
But “as far as children are concerned, parents get to make the final decision” as to whether to vaccinate their children based on “accepted medical and scientific” information, Goldhagen added.
He pointed to a measles outbreak earlier this year in South Florida, arguing the state’s handling of it “violated every premise of public health approach to addressing measles outbreaks.”
While Goldhagen didn’t elaborate, several public health experts criticized Ladapo for opposing proven public health measures and lacking urgency.
The state health department allowed unvaccinated children to attend school during the outbreak at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Broward County, defying public health protocols, according to NPR.
Ladapo did not urge parents to vaccinate their unvaccinated children or quarantine them. Instead, he left the decision up to the parents as to whether to send their kids to the school.
“I’m flummoxed about this,” Dr. Ali Khan, dean of public health at the University of Nebraska, told NPR. “I’ve never heard of a surgeon general who didn’t at least advocate for best public health practice.”
Even Scott Rivkees, Ladapo’s predecessor as state surgeon general, weighed in. “If you have an outbreak, try to get [unvaccinated] people vaccinated within three days of exposure,” Rivkees said.
During Ladapo’s Senate confirmation hearing in 2022, Democratic members walked out because they felt he refused to answer significant questions about vaccine effectiveness or acknowledge disrespect toward a Democratic senator.
Lauren Book, the Democratic leader in the Senate at the time, repeatedly asked Ladapo whether he regretted refusing to wear a face mask during the pandemic while meeting with state Sen. Tina Polsky, who was immunocompromised while undergoing treatment for cancer.
“I have sympathy for her and for other people who are diagnosed with serious conditions,” Ladapo said during the hearing. “I think it’s important to recognize that. Despite the politics of our environment, it’s a human thing. I sincerely wish her the very best.”
Book emphasized that Ladapo’s actions disrespected Polsky and the Senate as a whole. “And I am asking you, do you regret the way you treated our colleague?” Book demanded.
Although she pressed Ladapo to answer her direct question, he deflected instead, prompting a furious Book to walk out of the committee meeting room. Her Democratic colleagues followed suit.
Mixed reactions to HHS pick
Following Trump’s announcement, Kennedy expressed gratitude through a social media post, emphasizing his commitment “to Make America Healthy Again.”
“We have a generational opportunity to bring together the greatest minds in science, medicine, industry, and government to put an end to the chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy said via X.
Vice President Kamala Harris had commented on the potential of Kennedy leading the health agency during her unsuccessful presidential run, saying he “is the exact last person in America who should be setting health care policy for America’s families and children.”
Meanwhile, several congressional Republicans have raised concerns about Kennedy as HHS secretary.
Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif., told ABC News, “All my kids are vaccinated, and I hope he’s not going to move against one of the most life-saving technologies in the history of the world.” When asked whether Kennedy was the right pick, Duarte said, “I don’t know.”
As reported by ABC News, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, laughed when asked to comment on the nomination, saying, “It’s the president’s prerogative. I am not a senator.”
Still, Sarasota-area GOP U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan was elated by the news and posted a photo of a meeting he had with Kennedy.
“Great visiting with @RobertKennedyJr and @drmarkhyman this week!” Buchanan wrote on X. “We discussed the chronic disease epidemic and the importance of preventive medicine. I look forward to working with Bobby to Make America Healthy Again as Chairman of the Health Subcommittee on @WaysandMeansGOP.”
GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana praised Kennedy in an X post, claiming he “has championed issues like healthy foods and the need for greater transparency in our public health infrastructure.”
“I look forward to learning more about his other policy positions and how they will support a conservative, pro-American agenda,” said Cassidy, a physician and the incoming chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
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