Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current Secretary of Health and Human Services and once a prominent Democratic figure, has firmly put to rest swirling rumors about a potential 2028 presidential run. In a direct and forceful statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on August 15, 2025, Kennedy declared, "Let me be clear: I am not running for president in 2028. My loyalty is to President Trump and the mission we’ve started. ...We’ll keep moving forward, we’ll keep delivering wins, and no smear campaign will stop us." According to The Washington Post and The Hill, this announcement comes amid a flurry of speculation and political intrigue—much of it fueled by right-wing activist Laura Loomer and recent activities by Kennedy’s own Super PAC.
Kennedy’s political trajectory over the past two years has been nothing short of dramatic. He began the 2024 election cycle as a Democratic hopeful, then pivoted to an independent bid, only to ultimately endorse Donald Trump. This move surprised many, given Kennedy’s roots in a storied Democratic dynasty. But it also opened the door to his eventual appointment as Health and Human Services secretary under President Trump, a role that allowed him to champion issues close to his heart—chief among them, what he calls the "chronic disease epidemic."
Rumors about Kennedy’s supposed presidential ambitions for 2028 have been circulating for weeks. The chatter intensified after his Super PAC held an organizing call in July 2025, and when Laura Loomer, a far-right influencer known for targeting officials she deems insufficiently loyal to Trump, accused Stefanie Spear—Kennedy’s principal deputy chief of staff and former press secretary—of laying the groundwork for a future Kennedy campaign. "I think that there’s a clear intention by Stefanie Spear to utilize her position to try to lay the groundwork for a 2028 RFK presidential run," Loomer alleged to Politico.
Kennedy, however, has been unequivocal in his denials. He attributed the rumors to "DC lobby shops" intent on sabotaging his relationship with President Trump, calling the speculation a "flat-out lie." He also took to social media to defend Spear, who, like Kennedy, once held environmentally focused Democratic views before joining the Trump coalition in 2024. Spear previously worked with Kennedy at Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group, and played a key role during his 2024 campaign. Her presence in the administration has reportedly sparked suspicion among some MAGA loyalists, who question her influence and motives.
According to The Hill, Kennedy wrote in his social media post that his focus remains on ending the chronic disease epidemic—a key priority for the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, which has grown in prominence since Trump’s return to the White House. "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 stated. This message was echoed by Tony Lyons, leader of the Kennedy-supporting MAHA PAC, who told The Hill, "The story that Secretary Kennedy was running for president was a made up story. There’s no truth to it whatsoever." Lyons emphasized that Kennedy never gave any indication he was planning a run and described the rumors as the work of entrenched interests determined to protect their profits.
"He prayed for 20 years to have the opportunity that President Trump has given him. He is disrupting an entrenched and deeply corrupt system that has allowed a small group of companies to make incredible profits from products that make Americans sick. Those companies are spending millions to attack Secretary Kennedy and his incredible team to protect their ill-gotten gains," Lyons said, in a text message to The Hill.
The controversy around Kennedy’s future has been further fueled by his recent policy decisions. Earlier this month, he announced plans to slash nearly $500 million from the development of mRNA vaccines—a move that has alarmed many in the scientific and medical communities. According to The Washington Post, mRNA technology was critical in generating the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines deployed during Trump’s first term. Kennedy’s decision is seen by experts as likely to "generate more skepticism around science," especially given his long history of vaccine skepticism and his appeal to MAGA supporters with anti-establishment, science-disputing rhetoric.
This stance is not new for Kennedy. During the 2024 election, his opposition to mainstream vaccine science and his willingness to challenge established public health positions helped him build a loyal following among those skeptical of government and pharmaceutical industry motives. His MAHA movement, which dovetails with Trump’s broader populist message, has positioned itself as a crusade against what Kennedy and his allies describe as a "deeply corrupt system." The movement’s rhetoric—targeting "a small group of companies" profiting at the expense of public health—has resonated with voters frustrated by rising healthcare costs, chronic illness, and what they see as unaccountable corporate power.
Meanwhile, the personal dynamics within the Trump administration remain tense. Loomer’s campaign against Stefanie Spear is just the latest in a series of loyalty tests that have roiled the White House. Loomer, who has successfully pressured the removal of several officials deemed insufficiently loyal to Trump, has now set her sights on Spear, claiming she is aiding Kennedy’s supposed future ambitions. Kennedy, for his part, has stood by Spear, defending her against these allegations and insisting that their focus is squarely on delivering results for the American people, not on plotting future campaigns.
The speculation over Kennedy’s 2028 intentions also reflects deeper anxieties within the MAGA movement. As The Washington Post notes, Kennedy’s Democratic pedigree and his recent conversion to Trumpism have made some hardline supporters wary. The suspicion that he or his team might be hedging their bets for a post-Trump era has been a persistent undercurrent, exacerbated by the activities of his Super PAC and the presence of former Democrats like Spear in key positions.
Despite these tensions, Kennedy’s public statements have been consistent: he is not running for president in 2028, his loyalty is to President Trump, and his focus is on what he describes as a historic mission to end the chronic disease epidemic in America. As the political rumor mill continues to churn, one thing is certain—Kennedy’s role in the Trump administration and his high-profile policy moves will keep him in the spotlight, whether he wants it or not.
For now, Kennedy remains steadfast in his commitment to the Trump administration and the MAHA movement, determined to push forward with his agenda—and to silence, once and for all, the persistent whispers about his political future.
