Fetterman says RFK Jr confirmation 'not a slam dunk,' as Trump HHS nominee shores up support

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to pb the Department of Health and Human Services is "not a slam dunk," arsenic President Donald Trump's nominee works to enactment up support.

In an quality connected "Fox News Sunday," Fetterman said helium has met with Kennedy doubly successful his bureau and that immoderate his determination ends up being connected the HHS nominee, it volition beryllium "an informed view." 

"I've invested a batch of clip to truly recognize his inheritance and to larn much astir the man," Fetterman said, adding: "I approached with an unfastened caput and I watched the hearing. And that's however the process works." 

TRUMP HEALTH SECRETARY NOMINEE RFK JR SURVIVES HEATED HEARINGS AHEAD OF CRUCIAL CONFIRMATION VOTES

Sen. John Fetterman during the 60th statesmanlike inauguration successful the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol connected Jan. 20, 2025. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Asked if he's reached a determination connected whether he'll ballot "yay" oregon "nay" for Kennedy, Fetterman said helium has spoken to colleagues connected some sides regarding the matter. 

"It's been challenging for sure. Absolutely. It's surely not a slam dunk for the nomination," Fetterman told "Fox News Sunday" big Shannon Bream. 

"I've made an concern to truly recognize and speech to each of the nominees, and I treated everyone with respect and I took the clip to listen, and that's been portion of my commitment," helium added.

Kennedy, a lifelong Democrat who switched his statesmanlike run against Biden to tally arsenic an Independent earlier yet dropping from the contention to backmost Trump, made it done back-to-back grillings by the Senate Finance Committee connected Wednesday and the Health Committee connected Thursday. He inactive faces important committee and afloat Senate confirmation votes successful his ngo to pb 18 almighty national agencies that oversee the nation's nutrient and health.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., testifies during a Senate Committee connected Health, Education, Labor and Pensions proceeding connected Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

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Most of the pugnacious questions and sparring implicit his stances connected vaccines, abortion, Medicaid and different issues came from Democrats connected the 2 committees, but Thursday's proceeding ended with the apical Republican connected the Health sheet saying helium was "struggling" with Kennedy's nomination.

"Your past of undermining assurance successful vaccines with unfounded oregon misleading arguments concerns me," Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., told the nominee.

The doc from Louisiana, who is simply a important ballot and who has voiced concerns implicit Kennedy's past stance connected vaccines, asked whether Kennedy tin "be trusted to enactment the champion nationalist health." The legislator told Kennedy, who seeks to pb cardinal wellness agencies similar the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, that "you whitethorn beryllium proceeding from maine implicit the weekend."

Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Robert Kennedy Jr. walks to a gathering with Sen. John Fetterman connected Capitol Hill connected Jan. 9, 2025. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

Kennedy, whose outspoken views connected the pharmaceutical and nutrient industries person besides sparked controversy, has said helium aims to displacement the absorption of the agencies helium would oversee toward promotion of a steadfast lifestyle, including overhauling dietary guidelines, taking purpose astatine ultra-processed foods and getting to the basal causes of chronic diseases.

A beardown pro-life advocate, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told "Fox News Sunday" that helium is supporting Kennedy contempt the nominee's past comments saying helium supported codifying Roe v. Wade and termination "even if it's afloat term."  

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"I americium present OK to supporting RFK Jr. due to the fact that I deliberation during the people of the proceeding he's committed to a Republican pro-life agenda, President Trump's pro-life agenda," Graham said erstwhile asked astir those circumstantial past remarks from Kennedy. "So I volition instrumentality him astatine his word. I'm comfy with what helium said connected the pro-life issue. He has been radically pro-choice arsenic a person. But I bash judge that arsenic secretary, helium volition instrumentality a pro-life docket that volition beryllium pushed by President Trump. I volition beryllium a yes, but I'll besides ticker each determination helium makes." 

Fox News' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.