Schatz Presses RFK Jr. On Support For President Trump’s Order To Boost Weed Killer He Said Was Toxic, Causes Cancer

WASHINGTON - At a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) pressed U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on his support for President Trump's executive order aimed at boosting the production of glyphosate, an herbicide used by the agriculture industry to kill weeds. Kennedy has called the herbicide "toxic" and was part of a winning legal team representing a man in a lawsuit who alleged that the weed killer Roundup caused cancer.

Senator Schatz asked Secretary Kennedy, "Does glyphosate cause cancer?"

"Yes," Kennedy responded.

Schatz then asked, "Is it healthy for people to be around?

Kennedy responded, "I would say no."

"I got a lot of friends back in Hawai'i who supported you because of issues such as this, and they were hurt, shocked, confused when you were explicitly in favor of Trump's executive order," Schatz said. "What would you say to those folks who were kind of animated by this idea that we are too reliant on these dangerous chemicals... this seemed like an opportunity for you to really stand up for your agenda, especially given your successful litigation in this space."

Kennedy responded, "I was very clear with the president about my own displeasure with the executive order. The president felt it was necessary for national security reasons."

Schatz also questioned an attempt by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention to conduct dangerous and unethical vaccine trials on newborn babies in West Africa.

Video of Senator Schatz's exchange with Secretary Kennedy is available here.

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