Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now serving as the secretary of health and human services under President Donald Trump’s administration, is catching serious heat after dropping some wild and offensive claims about autism during his first official press conference.
At the event, Kennedy said, “Autism destroys families, and more importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children. These are children who should not be suffering like this. These are kids who will never pay taxes. They’ll never hold a job. They’ll never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem. They’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”
RFK Jr. Planning to Tell CDC to Stop Recommending Fluoride in Drinking Water
It didn’t take long for backlash to explode across social media. And Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett? She wasn’t about to let it slide.
Jasmine Crockett Drags RFK Jr. For “Wrong and Loud” Autism Take
Jasmine Crockett wasted no time checking Kennedy over his remarks. She hopped on X (formerly Twitter) and dropped facts, calling him out for spreading harmful misinformation about autism.
She wrote: *“RFK Jr. is very loud and very WRONG about Autism.
It’s not a disease.
There are thousands of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder who pay taxes, have jobs, can use the bathroom on their own, and are thriving in life. So the next time you step up to a podium, try doing a little research—or better yet, talk to some actual experts instead of spreading hateful, hurtful lies.”*
Crockett’s tweet resonated with families across the country. Her voice echoed what so many parents, advocates, and individuals on the spectrum have been trying to say for years: autism isn’t a tragedy, it’s a difference — and people with ASD are out here living full, powerful lives.
RFK Jr. Promises “Environmental Toxins” Study — Experts Say It’s Not That Simple
While folks were still processing his comments, Kennedy tried to clarify by saying HHS is preparing to launch new studies to “identify precisely what the environmental toxins are that are causing [autism].”
Then on April 15, he doubled down. In a statement following a CDC report, he said HHS expects to have “answers” by September.
Zachary Warren, a pediatric psychiatrist and autism researcher at Vanderbilt University, told NPR: “We may have hundreds, if not thousands, of different neurogenetic factors that in combination with complicated environmental interactions influence presentations of autism.”
He added: “As a clinician, I wish I had better — and, quite frankly, simpler — answers for my families. But autism isn’t a single thing; it is a word we use in an attempt to capture a spectrum of behavioral strengths, differences, and vulnerabilities in order to help optimally support children.”
Parents and Celebs Fire Back at Kennedy’s Hurtful Remarks
Kennedy’s statements didn’t just spark debate among scientists and lawmakers — they hit a nerve in the parenting community too.
Parents of children on the spectrum and advocates for autism awareness let their voices be heard loud and clear. Many shared photos and stories of their children thriving — from graduating college to starting businesses to living independently.
Even celebrities stepped in. Rosie O’Donnell, a longtime advocate and mom to an autistic child, posted a direct message to Kennedy on Instagram:
“Robert Kennedy u should be ashamed of urself,” she wrote alongside a picture with her 12-year-old son, Clay, who is autistic.
Holly Robinson Peete also weighed in, saying that while she appreciates research, Kennedy’s comments “set us back decades” in how the world views neurodivergent people.
