Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) is an American politician, environmental lawyer, author, and activist born on January 17, 1954. He is a member of the prominent Kennedy family, being the son of Senator and former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy

. Kennedy began his career as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan and later became a leading environmental advocate. He founded the nonprofit environmental group Waterkeeper Alliance and served as its chairman. He has been involved in major environmental legal victories, including cases against Monsanto and DuPont

. In recent years, RFK Jr. has become known for his controversial stance as a vaccine skeptic and promoter of vaccine misinformation, including the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. He founded Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine advocacy group, and has been criticized for fueling vaccine hesitancy

. Politically, he ran for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 U.S. presidential election before switching to an independent campaign and eventually endorsing Donald Trump. Since February 2025, he has served as the 26th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Trump, a role in which he continues to promote his views on public health, including concerns about environmental toxins and chronic diseases in children

. In summary, RFK Jr. is a prominent environmental lawyer and political figure known for his Kennedy family legacy, environmental activism, anti-vaccine advocacy, and current role as U.S. Health Secretary.