Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday dismissed speculation that he is preparing a presidential campaign for 2028. The rumours had been fuelled by right-wing activist Laura Loomer.

“Let me be clear: I am not running for president in 2028. My loyalty is to President Trump and the mission we’ve started,” Kennedy wrote in a post on X.

Kennedy launched a 2024 presidential bid as a Democrat before becoming an independent, later dropping out and endorsing Trump. He has since joined the administration, leading the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement.

Kennedy has faced pressure after Laura Loomer told Politico she feared Stefanie Spear, a top aide to the HHS secretary, was trying to “utilize her position to try to lay the groundwork for a 2028 RFK presidential run.”

FOCUS ON HEALTH PRIORITIES

In his post, Kennedy said his priority remains fighting chronic disease, the central mission of the MAHA movement.

“The president has made himself the answer to my 20-year prayer that God would put me in a position to end the chronic disease epidemic — and that’s exactly what my team and I will do until the day he leaves office,” Kennedy said.

KENNEDY DEFENDS TOP AIDE STEFANIE SPEAR

Kennedy also defended his top aide, Stefanie Spear, who has come under fire from Loomer over alleged disloyalty to Trump. Loomer has previously pressured the removal of officials she accused of insufficient loyalty to the former president.

Spear, once an environmentally focused Democrat, worked with Kennedy at Children’s Health Defence and served as his press secretary during his 2024 campaign. She joined Trump’s coalition in 2024 and now works at HHS.

Some MAGA loyalists have voiced concerns about her influence since Kennedy took office. But Tony Lyons, leader of the MAHA PAC that backed Kennedy, told The Hill that Kennedy “never intended to run for president in 2028.”

– Ends

With inputs from agencies