Public Trust in RFK Jr.’s Health Leadership Hits New Low: Poll

Widespread Disapproval of Kennedy’s Performance

A new Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll shows that most Americans disapprove of how Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is handling his role as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), particularly regarding vaccine policy. Nearly six in ten adults said they disapprove of Kennedy’s overall performance, signaling growing frustration with federal health leadership. THOMAS CORDY/THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Divisions Within Kennedy’s Own Movement

The disapproval crosses political lines. While 87% of Democrats disapprove of Kennedy’s leadership compared to 26% of Republicans, discontent exists even within Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement. About 30% of MAHA supporters say they are unhappy with how he’s running the department. The movement, centered on food, environmental issues, and pharmaceutical reform, has been defined by Kennedy’s overhaul of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee and major changes to federal vaccine recommendations. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Vaccine Policy Faces Strongest Backlash

Kennedy’s vaccine policies have drawn even sharper criticism than his general performance. According to KFF, 62% of adults overall — and 35% of MAHA supporters — disapprove of his approach to vaccine regulation. The survey suggests that Americans are increasingly uneasy with federal direction on public health, especially following the Trump administration’s recent statements linking Tylenol use in pregnancy to autism. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Trust in CDC and Federal Health Agencies Declines

Public trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has fallen to its lowest point since the start of the pandemic. Only half of Americans say they trust the CDC to provide reliable vaccine information, down from 63% last year. Even among Democrats, trust has plummeted 24 points since 2023. In contrast, roughly two-thirds of adults say they trust professional medical groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association for vaccine guidance. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / Wikimedia

Professional Groups Step In

As confidence in federal agencies wanes, professional associations and state governments have issued their own vaccine recommendations. About 45% of Americans say they trust their state governments for reliable vaccine information—10 points higher than their trust in Kennedy. “It’s encouraging if far from ideal that as trust in our nation’s scientific agencies crumbles, the public does trust the professional associations who have stepped forward,” KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said, according to CNN. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Doctors Remain Most Trusted

According to the KFF survey, physicians remain the most trusted voices on vaccines, with more than 80 percent of Americans saying they trust their doctor “a great deal” or “a fair amount.” The poll, which included responses from over 1,300 adults across the country, was conducted in late September. Kaboompics.com / Pexels

Confusion Over Trump’s Tylenol Claim

KFF found that while most Americans had heard Trump’s claim, only a small minority—less than 5%—believed it was “definitely true.” Roughly a third thought it was “definitely false,” while the rest were divided between “probably true” and “probably false.” Democrats were five times more likely than Republicans to reject the claim outright, but a majority of women across party lines expressed uncertainty. The White House / Wikimedia