Trump presses RFK Jr. for more autism research during Cabinet meeting

Published July 31, 2026 4:08pm ET | Updated July 31, 2026 4:38pm ET



President Donald Trump is ramping up pressure on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to study the alleged connection between vaccines and autism, switching course after senior administration advisers have tried to steer Kennedy away from the controversial topic before the 2026 midterm elections.

During the first-ever televised Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, Trump pointedly asked Kennedy, “How are you doing on the autism research?”

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.