RFK Jr. meets with more GOP senators amid concerns about his polio vaccine views

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. he returned to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to try to make his case to Republican senators that he can lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Also meeting with senators on Tuesday was Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence. He planned to meet with the two Democratic and five Republican senators on the Intelligence Committee.

Kennedy, who has come under fire for him anti-vaccine and push regulating food grown on the farmhe did not immediately discuss the issues he would like to raise in his meetings, but several senators shared what the priorities are for the potential head of HHS.

And some indicated that they were ready to reverse Kennedy’s stance.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told reporters outside the Senate Judiciary Committee that he disagreed with Kennedy on his positions on agriculture and avoided commenting on his position on abortion, but expressed optimism that Kennedy “supports President Trump’s policies.” on all fronts

“So my working assumption is that he’s going to stay in his lane and do HHS policy,” Hawley said, adding that he supports the polio vaccine.

Kennedy’s views on the polio vaccine have come under scrutiny after reports that his personal attorney, Aaron Siri, lobbied the Food and Drug Administration. revoke the approval of the vaccine. Sources told ABC News that Siri has been helping interview candidates for top health care jobs in the Trump administration. Siri, Partner at Siri Law Firm & Glimstad has also filed requests to suspend the distribution of other vaccines, including hepatitis B, and to revoke the emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Asked by ABC News if he planned to meet with outgoing House Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kennedy replied, “I hope so,” as he left a meeting with John Barroso, Republican of Wyoming. McConnell, a polio survivor, criticized Siri’s efforts to withdraw approval of the polio vaccine.

Kennedy also told reporters he would “probably” meet with Democratic senators when he returns to Capitol Hill in January, though he did not yet know who they would be.

Barroso said after the meeting that his “understanding” was that Kennedy “is in favor of the polio vaccine, in favor of it.”

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., also criticized Siri.

Sen. Kennedy, who said he was “looking forward to sitting down” with RFK Jr. with an “open mind,” suggested to reporters outside a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that the potential HHS secretary should fire his lawyer.

“I have a completely open mind, but that kind of nonsense is not helpful,” Kennedy said of polio misinformation.

“I look forward to him getting into a position where I can support him enthusiastically. I look forward to his confirmation hearings. We take those seriously,” the senator added.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., however, told reporters that Kennedy is a “breath of fresh air” and has his support.

Tuberville, who has no medical background, brushed off concerns about Kennedy’s views on vaccines and said, without any evidence or details, they were not “100% proven.”

“He wants parents to understand the good, the bad and the ugly instead of forcing parents to vaccinate their children,” the senator said.

Trump told them Monday that he believed in the polio vaccine and vowed that it was here to stay. However, he said he questioned the vaccination mandates.

Kennedy said Monday that he was “in favor of the polio vaccine.”

Sen. Thom Tillis, RN.C., said he would meet with Kennedy this week and hoped to have discussions with him about vaccines and the agricultural industry.

AbortionTillis said it was a “legitimate question” to ask him about Kennedy.

“I have been consistently and unapologetically pro-life since I was a member of the state legislature,” Tillis said.

One Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin of Illinois, told reporters that he has not yet had meetings with potential Trump nominees, but that abortion and vaccines, which he called “life and death issues,” should be discussed. Durbin did not specifically mention Kennedy in his remarks.

“I think, honestly, we should weigh those candidates based on what they have to say in the investigation, the FBI’s thorough investigation and the affidavit, and then make a final judgment,” he said.

Also Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass He expressed disapproval of Kennedyciting anti-vaccination campaigns.

“Do you really want me to run the Department of Health and Human Services?” he asked.

Gabbard has met with Democrats on the Intelligence Committee

Gabbard said Tuesday that she had a “great” meeting with Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.

“It was a great opportunity to meet with both the Democratic and Republican senators and clarify their questions or concerns and talk about the mission,” he said.

Asked if she felt confident she had the votes to confirm the vote, Gabbard said she “looks forward to meeting with senators as we move forward in this process.”

Fetterman has been leading the charge among Democrats rallying with Trump’s nominees. In a message from X on Tuesday, he confirmed that he has met with Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick for ambassador to the United Nations, and his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.

“I believe it is appropriate and the responsibility of a US Senator to have a conversation with President-elect Trump’s nominees,” Fetterman posted on X. “My votes will come from an open mind and an informed opinion, after having a conversation. That’s not controversial, it’s my job.”

Gabbard was also expected to meet with Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and Republican Senators Susan Collins, Dan Sullivan, Chuck Grassley, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul.

-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin and Beatrice Peterson contributed to this report.