Trump Transition Co-Chair Spouts Harmful Conspiracy Concept On CNN

The co-chair of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s transition group promoted the debunked idea that vaccines trigger autism in a CNN interview Wednesday.

Howard Lutnick, the billionaire CEO of economic providers agency Cantor Fitzgerald and a longtime friend of Trump’s, advised the community’s Kaitlan Collins that vaccines are “not confirmed” to be secure. Lutnick mentioned he’d not too long ago been schooled on vaccines by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the previous unbiased presidential candidate and anti-vaxxer who has endorsed Trump.

Kennedy has mentioned he would have vital affect over public well being coverage if Trump wins the White Home.

“So, I spent two-and-a-half hours this week with Bobby Kennedy Jr., and it was essentially the most extraordinary factor. As a result of, let’s face it, we’ve all heard on the information all types of type of snarky feedback about him,” Lutnick advised Collins.

Recounting his dialog with Kennedy, Lutnick went on to hyperlink autism to the expansion of vaccines — a discredited concept that dates again to a retracted study from 1998 — earlier than Collins interrupted to remind viewers Lutnick just isn’t a scientist.

“Grasp on,” the anchor mentioned. “OK, neither of us are docs. Vaccines are secure.”

“Why do you assume vaccines are secure? There’s no product legal responsibility anymore. They’re not confirmed,” Lutnick mentioned.

“As a result of they’re confirmed. Children get them they usually’re positive,” Collins mentioned.

“Why do you assume they’re positive?” Lutnick responded.

A Trump spokesperson didn’t instantly reply Thursday morning when requested if the marketing campaign stood by Lutnick’s feedback.

The previous president himself has lengthy voiced skepticism of vaccines and has promised to cut funding for colleges that require them, enjoying into anti-vax conspiracy theories which have gone mainstream within the Republican Social gathering. (All states have variations of legal guidelines requiring sure vaccines.)

Trump additionally engaged in some anti-vax banter with Kennedy throughout a July telephone name captured in a leaked video.

“Whenever you feed a child, Bobby, a vaccination that’s like 38 completely different vaccines, and it seems prefer it’s match for a horse, not a 10-pound or 20-pound child, it seems like you have to be giving a horse this factor,” Trump mentioned on the decision.

After Kennedy dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump, the previous president gave him a slot on his transition group.

Kennedy advised supporters earlier this week that Trump had promised to give him “control” over key public health agencies just like the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

“The important thing that I believe I’m — you already know, that President Trump has promised me is — is management of the general public well being businesses,” Kennedy mentioned in a livestream, video of which CNN obtained. He cited the Division of Well being and Human Companies, the Meals and Drug Administration and the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, amongst others.

Trump was scheduled to look with Kennedy at a marketing campaign occasion within the swing state of Arizona on Thursday.