politics
RFK Jr. Announces He Will Not Run for President in 2028
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told KFF Health News he has no plans to seek the presidency again as a Republican. His remarks came amid tensions with some MAHA supporters over vaccine policy and recent Trump administration nominations at the CDC and surgeon general. Kennedy is instead expected to campaign for GOP candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
May 15, 5:00 AM·1m read2 sources
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he will not run for president in 2028. The announcement came after a speech at the Cleveland City Club as part of his tour of northern Ohio.
Kennedy called for parents to have more “choice” on vaccinating their children. According to the CBS News report, the statement drew applause from roughly half the room. His remarks also focused on healthcare affordability and drug prices when he appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee.
Kennedy has said he supports President Trump’s April nomination of Erica Schwartz to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He told lawmakers last month that he did not discuss Schwartz’s nomination with Trump. Kennedy fired former CDC director Susan Monarez, who testified she was ousted for not preapproving vaccine recommendations.
In a March straw poll of more than 1,600 attendees at CPAC, nearly zero support was recorded for Kennedy as a presidential candidate. Kennedy ran for president in the 2024 race as a Democrat, then as an independent, before halting his campaign in August 2024 and endorsing Trump.
His travel schedule is set to intensify in support of Republican candidates in states with competitive races in the 2026 midterm elections. Kennedy said “I think I have” gone wild on health, referencing President Trump’s 2024 pledge to let him “go wild” on health. His podcast has centered on food and nutrition.
A March poll by Politico found U.S. adults now identify as MAHA supporters. According to a KFF poll conducted in April, 81 percent of voters said vaccine policy will have an impact on their decision to vote in the 2026 midterm elections, while 64 percent of voters said they are very or somewhat worried about healthcare costs.
