Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s views on eliminating corporate influence frequently match those of some of Trump’s most vocal opponents. It’s clear that there is a close relationship between President-elect Donald J. Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., both known for their large egos and their aim to uncover what they perceive as a corrupt federal system. However, if Mr. Kennedy is appointed to head the Department of Health and Human Services, some of his main objectives might clash with the administration’s deregulation-focused agenda. Mr. Trump’s selection for White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is affiliated with a lobbying firm that has worked for the industries that Mr. Kennedy intends to challenge. For the last twenty years, Mr. Kennedy, a lawyer and long-time environmental advocate, has shifted his focus to health matters, many of which—besides his concerns about vaccine safety—have typically been more in line with the Democratic Party he previously supported. Mr. Kennedy’s ideas about dismantling corporate influence among major sectors like Big Pharma, Big Agriculture, and Big Food resonate with the views of some of the most vocal critics of the incoming Trump administration, such as Michelle Obama. Mr. Kennedy, who recently spoke out against Mr. Trump’s love for fast food, has expressed his intentions to target ultra-processed foods that are linked to the increasing rates of diabetes and obesity in the U.S. Those objectives would be recognizable to anyone who experienced the Obama administration, during which Michelle Obama launched the Let’s Move! initiative. As First Lady, she led a campaign to promote healthier diets and lifestyles for children. Ms. Obama was instrumental in former President Barack Obama’s establishment of a task force focused on childhood obesity. During his leadership, federal agencies introduced revised nutrition labels and the widely recognized “MyPlate” symbol, which took the place of the food pyramid. Most importantly, she advocated for the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which boosted funding and improved nutritional standards for school lunches.
