Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has put to rest swirling rumors that he is considering a 2028 run for the White House, forcefully denying speculation that has been stoked by right-wing activist Laura Loomer and amplified by political observers. In a series of pointed statements on social media and through official channels, Kennedy emphasized his unwavering loyalty to President Donald Trump and the shared mission they have undertaken within the Trump administration.
“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 declared in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on August 15, 2025. According to The Hill and POLITICO, his remarks came in direct response to claims made by Loomer—a vocal figure in the MAGA movement—who has repeatedly accused Kennedy and his team of laying the groundwork for a future presidential campaign.
Loomer’s allegations, first aired in an interview with POLITICO, targeted not only Kennedy but also his Principal Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor, Stefanie Spear. Loomer asserted that Spear, a longtime Kennedy aide and former press secretary during his 2024 campaign, was using her position at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to pave the way for Kennedy’s potential 2028 bid. “There’s been some things that have happened,” Loomer told POLITICO, “There’s been several things that have happened at HHS that are contradictory to the initial promises made.”
Kennedy, however, was unequivocal in his defense of both his own intentions and Spear’s loyalty. “Their attacks on my staff, especially Stefanie Spear—a fierce, loyal warrior for MAHA who proudly serves in the Trump Administration and works every day to advance President Trump’s vision for a healthier, stronger America—are proof we’re over the target. We’ll keep moving forward, we’ll keep delivering wins, and no smear campaign will stop us,” he wrote on X, as reported by The Daily Beast and Axios.
The roots of this political drama trace back to Kennedy’s own tumultuous journey through the 2024 election cycle. Initially launching his presidential campaign as a Democrat, Kennedy later declared an independent run before ultimately dropping out and endorsing Trump. This move surprised many in both parties, but it also allowed Trump to tap into Kennedy’s substantial following among the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement—a coalition focused on combating what Kennedy has long described as America’s chronic disease epidemic.
“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 explained in his social media post, a sentiment echoed in coverage by The Associated Press and POLITICO.
The speculation around a possible 2028 run was further fueled by moves from Kennedy’s Super PAC and ongoing grassroots organizing efforts. Notably, Tony Lyons, leader of the Kennedy-supporting MAHA PAC, reportedly led an organizing call with Kennedy supporters in July 2025. Lyons was quick to quash any rumors, telling The Hill via text, “The story that Secretary Kennedy was running for president was a made up story. There’s no truth to it whatsoever.” He added, “Secretary Kennedy never gave any indication that he was planning to run for president. 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.”
Kennedy’s appointment as HHS Secretary was itself a bold political maneuver by Trump, who sought to harness Kennedy’s credibility with health-focused voters and leverage his public profile. According to Axios and The Associated Press, Kennedy’s leadership has centered on the MAHA agenda, with a particular focus on ending the chronic disease epidemic—a cause that has defined his public life for decades.
Despite Kennedy’s repeated denials, some of his allies and PACs have continued to organize grassroots networks, raising questions about whether the infrastructure for a future campaign is being quietly maintained. However, as POLITICO and Axios note, these efforts are currently aimed at supporting the MAHA agenda and President Trump’s re-election prospects, not at launching a Kennedy 2028 campaign.
The political intrigue has not been limited to Kennedy’s camp. Loomer, known for her aggressive tactics in targeting perceived disloyalty within the Trump administration, has previously led pressure campaigns resulting in the ousting of officials. One such campaign targeted Vinay Prasad, a vaccine regulator at the Food and Drug Administration, though he was later reinstated. Loomer’s focus on Spear and Kennedy reflects broader tensions within the MAGA movement over ideological purity and loyalty to Trump.
Kennedy’s public statements have sought to turn these attacks into a rallying point for his team. “The swamp is in full panic mode,” he wrote, “laboring fiercely to drive a wedge between President Trump and me.” He accused “DC lobby shops” of working to thwart efforts to dismantle the status quo and advance Trump’s MAHA agenda.
For now, Kennedy’s message is clear: his focus remains on serving as HHS Secretary under Trump, advancing the MAHA agenda, and tackling the nation’s chronic disease crisis. “We’ll keep moving forward, we’ll keep delivering wins, and no smear campaign will stop us,” he reiterated.
While rumors and political maneuvering are nothing new in Washington, Kennedy’s forceful denials and the continued support from his team suggest that, at least for the foreseeable future, the speculation of a 2028 presidential run is just that—speculation. The real story, for now, is the ongoing battle over health policy and political loyalty at the heart of the Trump administration.
As the dust settles on this latest round of political theater, Kennedy and his team appear determined to press ahead, undistracted by rumors, and focused on their stated mission—a stance that, if nothing else, underscores the intensity of the battles being fought behind the scenes in America’s capital.
