As Kennedy's confirmation hearings begin in the Senate, his nomination to become the nation's top health official could depend on how firmly he sticks to these personal beliefs during questioning. He has already softened some long-held opinions.
Kennedy faces some skepticism from the public, according to a new survey by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Only about 3 in 10 adults in the United States approve of President Donald Trump nominating him as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Around 4 in 10 disapprove, while nearly a quarter are neutral or don't know enough to have an opinion.
But he also has strengths. Kennedy's selection by Trump is especially popular among Republicans: around 6 in 10 approve, compared to about 1 in 10 Democrats. And while many Americans disagree with some of Kennedy's more controversial health stances — including beliefs about reevaluating childhood vaccination recommendations and changing guidelines on fluoride in drinking water and raw milk consumption — some of his other stances, like reformulating processed foods, are widely popular.
This is what the AP-NORC survey shows about which of Kennedy's priorities are likely to be popular among American adults and which may not be as well-received.
For a long time, Kennedy has been a vaccine skeptic, and he and Trump have falsely claimed that childhood vaccines are dangerous and linked to rising autism rates. His opposition to vaccines is broad, and he has said that "there is no vaccine that is safe and effective."
The AP-NORC survey suggests that reevaluating vaccine recommendations would be unpopular among many Americans.
Around 4 in 10 Americans strongly or somewhat oppose reconsidering government recommendations on widely used vaccines, such as the flu vaccine, while about 3 in 10 are in favor. About 3 in 10 Americans are neutral.
Republicans are more likely than Democrats to support reevaluating government recommendations for widely used vaccines, although their support is not overwhelming. Around 4 in 10 Republicans support reevaluating vaccine recommendations, compared to about 2 in 10 Democrats.
One of Kennedy's ideas is popular overall: removing some chemicals from processed foods. Kennedy has pledged to ban certain food additives and crack down on ultra-processed foods, linked to high rates of obesity and diabetes.
Around two-thirds of Americans are somewhat or strongly in favor of restricting or reformulating processed foods to eliminate ingredients like added sugar or colorants. This is an area where Democrats and Republicans agree: around 7 in 10 members of each group support restrictions.
Support is particularly high among American adults with higher household incomes, although research from the National Institutes of Health has indicated that ultra-processed foods are consumed at higher rates in low-income groups. Approximately 8 in 10 adults with a household income of $100,000 or more per year support restrictions, compared to about half of Americans with a household income of $30,000 or less.
Kennedy indicated before the elections that he would be willing to end the "aggressive suppression" of raw milk by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have labeled raw milk as one of the "riskiest" foods people can consume due to the potential for contamination.
This is a proposal he would have to convince the public about. Around 4 in 10 American adults strongly or somewhat oppose lifting restrictions on the sale of unpasteurized or raw milk. Approximately 2 in 10 Americans are in favor of this idea, with Republicans more likely than Democrats to support it. But even Republicans are divided: about 3 in 10 are in favor, while nearly 3 in 10 are against.
Kennedy has criticized prescription weight loss medications, such as Ozempic, saying that better quality nutrition could solve the obesity problem in the United States, but in December he changed his mind, saying that medications "have a place" to ensure people do not suffer from obesity, in addition to lifestyle changes.
Americans view weight loss medications as a good solution for adults with obesity. About half of American adults say it is "very good" or "somewhat good" for adults to use weight loss medications if they struggle with obesity or a weight-related health condition. And about half also support Medicare and Medicaid covering the cost of these medications if prescribed for weight loss in people with obesity.
Kennedy has said he wants the federal government to advise local governments against adding fluoride to their drinking water. The CDC has stated that adding fluoride in small amounts to drinking water helps prevent cavities and dental decay.
There are more Americans against than in favor of removing fluoride from drinking water, but many do not have an opinion on the matter, leaving room for changes in either direction. Around 4 in 10 Americans oppose removing fluoride from the water supply, and about a quarter are in favor. An additional third is neutral, saying they are neither for nor against. Around a third of independents and Republicans are in favor, compared to about 2 in 10 Democrats.
The idea of removing fluoride from drinking water is particularly unpopular among adults aged 60 and older, and the data suggests that younger Americans may be more open to it. About half of adults aged 60 and older oppose removing fluoride from water, compared to approximately 4 in 10 adults aged 30 to 59. Only about 2 in 10 adults under 30 oppose it.
Kennedy has previously expressed support for the right to abortion, which contradicts the beliefs of many of the Republican lawmakers who will need to confirm him in his position, although he has said he will follow Trump's guidelines on the issue.
Kennedy is at a crossroads on the issue. About 6 in 10 voters in the November elections said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of over 120,000 voters. About a third said it should be illegal in all or most cases. But like the Republican senators who will question him, conservative voters view the issue differently. Among Republican voters, approximately 6 in 10 said abortion should be illegal in at least "most" cases, and only about 4 in 10 said it should be mostly legal.