President Donald Trump stood by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. after he faced an intense grilling from senators on Capitol Hill Thursday, telling reporters, "I like the fact that he’s different."
While speaking with the press during his dinner with technology industry leaders at the White House, Trump was asked about the hearing.
"Mr. President, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said, effectively, 'We're denying people vaccines.' Do you have full confidence in what RFK Jr. is doing?" a reporter asked.
Trump noted that he "didn't get to watch the hearings today," but spoke highly of Kennedy, saying, "He’s a very good person.
"He means very well. And he's got some little different ideas. I guarantee a lot of the people at this table like RFK Jr., and I do, but he's got a different take, and we want to listen to all of those takes," the president said.
"But I heard he did very well today," Trump added. "It's not your standard talk. I would say that, and that has to do with medical and vaccines. But if you look at what's going on in the world with health and look at this country also with regard to health, I like the fact that he's different."
While testifying before the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy faced intense criticism from Democratic senators, including Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who accused Kennedy of putting children into "harm's way" with his policies.
Wyden pressed Kennedy during the hearing, saying he believed Kennedy had "no regrets" about a "fundamentally cruel" agenda.
