Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says Donald Trump will push to remove fluoride from drinking water

PHOENIX – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.., prominent supporter debunked health care claims whom Donald Trump promised to put in charge health initiativessaid Saturday that Trump will push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office.

Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces caries by replenishing minerals lost through normal wear and tearaccording to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adding small amounts of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.

Kennedy made a statement on social media platform X, along with various claims about the health effects of fluoride.

“On January 20, the Trump White House will consult the entire United States. water systems to remove fluoride from public water,” Kennedy wrote. Trump and his wife Melania Trump “want to make America healthy again,” he added, repeating a phrase Trump often uses and references to Kennedy.

It is unclear whether Kennedy discussed Saturday’s post with Trump or his aides. The Trump campaign did not provide a direct answer, and Kennedy’s spokesman did not respond when asked.

“While President Trump has received many policy ideas, he is focused on Tuesday’s election,” said Danielle Alvarez, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign.

But the sudden and unexpected social media post over the weekend was a reminder of the chaotic politics that defined Trump’s tenure in the White House, with him tweeting political declarations at virtually any time. It also underscored the concerns of many experts about Kennedy, who long-promoted debunked theories on the safety of vaccines that have an impact on US public health.

In 1950, federal officials approved water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay and continued to promote it even after fluoridated toothpaste brands hit the market a few years later. While fluoride can come from a variety of sources, the main source for Americans is drinking water, the researchers said.

Officials omitted their 2015 recommendations for fluoride levels in drinking water to treat a dental condition called fluorosis, which can cause stains on teeth and is becoming increasingly common among children in the United States.

In August, the federal agency definite There is “moderate confidence” an association between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children. The National Toxicology Program bases its findings on studies showing fluoride levels at about twice the recommended limit for drinking water.

A federal judge later cited this study in order The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken steps to further regulate fluoride in drinking water. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it was not certain that the amount of fluoride commonly added to water causes lower IQ in children, but he concluded that a growing body of research suggests there may be an unreasonable risk. He ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to take steps to reduce that risk, but did not specify what those measures should be.

In an “X” post on Saturday, Kennedy tagged Michael Connett, the lead attorney representing the plaintiff in the suit, the environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch.

Kennedy’s anti-vaccine organization has a pending lawsuit against news organizations including the Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy is on leave from the group but is named in the lawsuit as one of its lawyers.

What role Kennedy might take if Trump wins on Tuesday remains unclear. Kennedy recently told NewsNation that Trump asked him to “reorganize” agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and some Agriculture Department agencies.

But for now, the former independent presidential candidate has become one of Trump’s main surrogates. Trump frequently cites his support for Kennedy, the scion of a Democratic dynasty, son of former Attorney General Robert Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy traveled with Trump on Friday and spoke at his rallies in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Trump said Saturday that he told Kennedy, “You can work on food, you can work on anything” except oil policy.

“He wants health, he wants women’s health, he wants men’s health, he wants children, he wants everything,” Trump added.