Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump attend a marketing campaign occasion sponsored by conservative group Turning Level USA, in Duluth, Georgia, U.S., October 23, 2024.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
Former president Donald Trump mentioned Sunday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s proposal to take away fluoride from the U.S. water system “sounds okay” to him, a place that runs counter to the recommendation of public well being companies.
“Nicely, I have not talked to him about it but, nevertheless it sounds okay to me. You recognize it is attainable,” Trump mentioned in an interview with NBC Information’ Dasha Burns, when requested about Kennedy’s proposition.
Kennedy posted on X Saturday, “On January 20, the Trump White Home will advise all U.S. water methods to take away fluoride from public water.”
Trump additionally mentioned Kennedy would have an enormous position crafting public well being coverage in any Trump administration.
Fluoride is of course occurring in virtually all water sources, and a few is added to public water to assist forestall cavities, in line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
“The protection and advantages of fluoride are effectively documented and have been reviewed comprehensively by a number of scientific and public well being organizations,” reads a publish on the CDC web site.
The American Dental Affiliation says that 70 years of analysis backs up the security and efficacy of including fluoride to water, a course of often known as neighborhood water fluoridation.
The Trump marketing campaign didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s request for touch upon the fluoride comment.
Kennedy can be a well-known vaccine skeptic, who has helped unfold false conspiracy theories about public well being. Requested by NBC Information whether or not “banning sure vaccines is perhaps on the desk” if Trump have been president and Kennedy was in his administration, Trump left the door open.
“Nicely I will discuss to him and discuss to different individuals, and I will decide, however he is a really gifted man and has sturdy views,” mentioned Trump.
The science on fluoride and water fluoridation is obvious. However Trump’s doubts and the questions they might elevate for voters about what public well being may seem like in a Trump White Home underscore a critical problem for the Trump marketing campaign in its last days: Staying on message.
Final weekend, insult comic Tony Hinchcliffe referred to as Puerto Rico a “floating island of rubbish,” which the Trump marketing campaign distanced itself from.
These feedback dominated the information cycle for a number of days, till President Joe Biden appeared to name Trump supporters “rubbish,” earlier than later saying that was not what he meant.
Republicans argue that voters will not be listening to each controversial assertion from Trump and his allies this week, and as a substitute centered on the larger points within the race.
“Voters in Michigan and Ohio and Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and Georgia and North Carolina are all speaking about crime and unemployment,'” mentioned Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday.
“They’re speaking in regards to the border. They’re speaking about 70,000 People dropping their lives to fentanyl. They are not speaking about fluoride.”
