Donald Trump has chosen vaccine skeptic and former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his health secretary, as the president-elect continues to build his new administration.

Kennedy, commonly known by his initials RFK Jr. History of spreading health information that scientists say is false,

If his nomination is approved by the Senate, he will lead a massive agency overseeing everything from food security to medical research and welfare programs.

The executive director of the American Public Health Association (APHA) said the organization would “vehemently oppose” Kennedy’s nomination.

Speaking to BBC Newsday on Friday, Georges C. Benjamin blasted Kennedy’s qualifications for the role.

Benjamin said, “On the basis of training, management skills, temperament or trustworthiness, he is not cut out for this job. He is absolutely the wrong man for it.”

“He is a person with virtually no health background who has already caused a lot of harm to health in the country.”

Benjamin pointed to Kennedy’s past comments questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines, and what could happen if another pandemic occurred during his term.

Benjamin added: “We’re advocating as loudly and as often as possible to make sure people know what a threat he is to the public and the public’s health.”

Kennedy’s nomination came amid a flurry of announcements Thursday evening, with Trump also announcing his intention to nominate North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as his Secretary of the Interior.

Trump said he would formally announce Friday the selection of Burgum — a former businessman who ran against the president-elect for the Republican presidential nomination.

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He initially teased the move during a speech in front of supporters at Mar-a-Lago – his first since election night – saying he would appoint Burgum to a “much bigger position” than he did before. Decided to remove the suspense.

Other nominations announced Thursday include:

• Former Georgia Congressman Doug Collins As Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
• todd blanchTrump’s defense attorney in his “hush money” criminal trial will serve as deputy attorney general.
• dean john sawyerWho represented Trump as Solicitor General in a US Supreme Court case earlier this year. He will be charged with overseeing and conducting the government’s litigation in the Supreme Court.
• jay claytonFormer chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, one of the most influential federal trial courts.

Trump said in a statement He was “thrilled to announce” Kennedy’s nomination.

Speculation had run rampant that Trump planned to hand a key health care role to his former rival.

He told supporters at his election night victory party that Kennedy wanted to “help make America healthy again.”

“For too long, Americans have been oppressed by the industrial food complex and pharmaceutical companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation and disinformation when it comes to public health,” Trump said in a statement Thursday.

“Mr. Kennedy will restore these agencies (Health and Human Services) as symbols of the traditions and transparency of gold standard scientific research, to end the chronic disease epidemic and make America great and healthy again!”

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The nominee comes from one of the most famous families in Democratic politics, being the son of U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated in the 1960s.

Now aged 70, the environmental lawyer initially ran for president as an independent candidate this year after launching a Democratic primary bid, but he ultimately suspended his campaign, endorsing Trump.

He is known for his criticism of childhood vaccines, claiming in an interview last year: “I believe autism comes from vaccines.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionThe US National Public Health Agency, which is one of the bodies overseen by the US Secretary of Health: “Many studies have looked at whether there is an association between vaccines and ASD (autism spectrum disorder). To date, the studies “Shows that vaccines are not associated with ASD.”

Kennedy, who was addicted to heroin for 14 years in his youth, has also spoken about his desire to help combat America’s substance abuse crisis.

‘Now we’re seeing an epidemic of addiction, of alcoholism.’ He told the Daily Mail last year“But also just loneliness, despair, isolation, isolation.”

During his campaign for the White House, stories about Kennedy’s personal life appeared in the news more frequently than any major policy proposal. his confession that he had suffering from brain wormsAnd a different story about that Dumping a dead bear in New York’s Central ParkRemained in the headlines for many days.

Democrats immediately condemned the selection, with Senator Patty Murray calling the selection “disastrous” and Kennedy labeling Kennedy a “fringe conspiracy theorist.”

Republican Senator Susan Collins said she found some of Kennedy’s “statements troubling”, but said she would give him a fair hearing during confirmation proceedings.

Since winning the US elections last week, Trump has been selecting his top team. His party is projected to win the House of Representatives, which means Republicans will run the White House and all of Congress.

Marco Rubio has been nominated for Secretary of State and former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence. But his decision to nominate controversial Florida congressman Matt Gaetz has raised questions on Capitol Hill.

Gaetz, a longtime outspoken ally of Trump, was the subject of an ongoing ethics investigation in the House of Representatives over allegations of sexual misconduct, illegal drug use and misuse of campaign funds.

Senator Dick Durbin, the current chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has called for the report’s findings on the allegations to be published.

Gaetz is also a divisive figure within his own party after ousting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. Lisa Murkowski, a moderate Senate Republican, said Gaetz was “not a serious nomination for attorney general”.

Meanwhile, Trump, in his first public address since his election night victory speech, offered new details on Elon Musk’s role in his administration.

The newly elected President said Musk’s new government efficiency department Will release a series of reports in the coming weeks to streamline the US government.