RFK Jr tells lawmakers that ‘every abortion is a tragedy’ at confirmation hearing

Every termination is simply a "tragedy," President Donald Trump's Health and Human Services nominee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., told lawmakers Wednesday. 

While Kennedy antecedently voiced enactment for termination adjacent successful the precocious stages of pregnancy, Kennedy told the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday helium would transportation retired Trump’s argumentation priorities concerning abortion. 

"I hold with President Trump that each termination is simply a tragedy," Kennedy said astatine his confirmation hearing. "I hold with him that we cannot beryllium a motivation federation if we person 1.2 cardinal abortions a year. I hold with him that the states should power abortion. President Trump has told maine that helium wants to extremity late-term abortions, and helium wants to support conscience exemptions." 

"I service astatine the pleasance of the president," Kennedy said. "I’m going to instrumentality his policies."

MULTIPLE OUTBURTS ERUPT AT RFK JR HEARING: ‘YOU ARE’

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., spouse with Morgan & Morgan PA, is sworn-in during a House Judiciary Subcommittee connected the Weaponization of the Federal Government proceeding successful Washington, DC, US, connected Thursday, July 20, 2023. (Getty)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 625,978 abortions were reported from 48 areas successful 2021. 

Trump has said connected aggregate occasions that helium supports termination successful definite instances, and said that "powerful exceptions" for termination would stay successful spot nether his administration.

Meanwhile, Kennedy has altered his presumption connected termination respective times successful the past year. Kennedy, a erstwhile Democrat who ran arsenic an autarkic statesmanlike campaigner successful the 2024 election, has historically stated that helium doesn’t judge the authorities should measurement successful with a woman’s prime to extremity a pregnancy, contempt his "personally pro-life" stance.

RFK JR RIPS DEM SENATOR FOR PUSHING ‘DISHONEST’ NARRATIVE ON PAST VACCINE COMMENTS: ‘CORRECTED IT MANY TIMES’

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks earlier Republican statesmanlike nominee erstwhile President Donald Trump astatine a run event, Sept. 27, 2024.  (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

In May, Kennedy said helium supported abortions successful the 3rd trimester, though helium aboriginal followed up and said helium does backmost immoderate restrictions. 

Kennedy’s views appeared astatine likelihood with 1 another, and Democratic lawmakers said they were "confused" by his answers connected abortion. 

"Mr. Kennedy, I’m confused. You person intelligibly stated successful the past that bodily autonomy is 1 of your halfway values. The question is, bash you basal for that worth oregon not?" Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., said during the confirmation hearing. "When was it that you decided to merchantability retired the values you person had your full beingness successful bid to beryllium fixed powerfulness by President Trump?"

RFK JR. LIKELY TO BE CONFIRMED AS HEALTH SECRETARY, DR. SIEGEL SAYS

President Donald Trump's nominee to beryllium Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy Jr. sits successful a gathering with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) connected Capitol Hill connected January 9, 2025 successful Washington, DC. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

Other lawmakers voiced concerns astir Kennedy’s nomination, including Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. 

"Frankly, you frighten people," Whitehouse said, aft claiming that determination was a measles outbreak successful Rhode Island for the archetypal clip since 2013 amid a broader treatment astir Kennedy’s stance connected vaccines. 

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Kennedy pushed backmost connected "news reports" that helium is anti-vaccine and anti-industry successful his opening statements Wednesday, noting that each his children are vaccinated. He besides has antecedently said that helium isn't funny successful taking "away anybody's vaccines."

Fox News Digital's Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.