Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary is caught in a political storm over whispers of a 2028 presidential bid.
According to The Guardian, Kennedy, aged 71, has firmly denied allegations from conservative influencer Laura Loomer that his team is laying groundwork for a future run, while facing intense scrutiny within the Trump administration over his policies and staff.
Let’s rewind a bit to set the stage. Kennedy, once a contender for the Democratic nomination and later an independent candidate, ultimately aligned himself with President Trump, who rewarded him with the HHS cabinet post and a mission to “Make America Healthy Again” (Maha).
Trump didn’t always sing Kennedy’s praises, initially branding him a “radical left liberal” during the campaign. But in a surprising twist, Kennedy landed a key role, tasked with shaking up health policy. And shake things up he has, for better or worse.
Fast forward to recent months, and Kennedy’s decisions at HHS have raised eyebrows. Reports surfaced that he aimed to overhaul an advisory panel on preventive health measures, deeming its members too aligned with progressive agendas. Well, turns out shaking the “woke” tree can drop some controversial fruit.
The American Conservative magazine didn’t hold back, slamming the panel for pushing what it called “left-wing ideological orthodoxy” with language and historical references that many on the right find out of touch. Meanwhile, HHS halted $500 million in mRNA vaccine research and revived a task force on childhood vaccine safety—moves that signal Kennedy’s skepticism toward certain medical mainstreams.
Enter Laura Loomer, the 32-year-old conservative firebrand and Trump loyalist often dubbed “Trump’s Rasputin.” She’s no stranger to stirring the pot, having spearheaded pressure campaigns that ousted administration figures over perceived disloyalty. Her latest target? Kennedy and his inner circle.
Loomer, in a sharp Politico interview, expressed concern over Kennedy’s top aide, Stefanie Spear, alleging she’s paving the way for a 2028 presidential run. “I’m not naive enough to think that the president is going to get rid of RFK,” Loomer said, but she’s clearly sounding the alarm on HHS staffing.
She didn’t stop there, pointing to “several things” at HHS that contradict initial promises. That’s a polite way of saying she smells a rat. And with her track record of influencing White House dismissals, her words carry weight.
Kennedy wasn’t about to let this slide, issuing a fiery rebuttal on social media. “The swamp is in full panic mode,” he posted on X, accusing D.C. lobbyists of trying to split him from Trump.
He went further, calling the 2028 rumors a “flat-out lie.” “Let me be clear: I am not running for president in 2028,” Kennedy stated, pledging unwavering loyalty to Trump and their shared mission.
As for the attacks on his staff, Kennedy defended Spear as a “fierce, loyal warrior” for the Maha agenda. “No smear campaign will stop us,” he declared, suggesting that the criticism only proves they’re hitting the right nerves.
Loomer’s influence isn’t just talk—she’s got a history of getting results, having pushed for the removal of officials like Monte Hawkins over alleged anti-Trump biases and Vinay Prasad for being a supposed “progressive leftist saboteur.” Prasad was later reinstated, but the message was clear: Loomer plays hardball.
Her critics might say she swings too wide, but her supporters see a watchdog. Her past comments in the New York Times label Kennedy as “a very problematic person” running a “shadow presidential campaign” from HHS.
That’s a bold claim, and while a White House official downplayed the threat of Kennedy running again, the tension is palpable. Sometimes, the loudest bark comes before the bite.
