RFK Jr. claims that if Trump wins, fluoride will be removed from drinking water

The final episode in the race to the White House

The 2024 presidential contests are entering their final weekend, with Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump competing against each other in a razor-thin contest. At this late stage of the campaign, every day counts. And while few voters might change their minds this late in a typical election, there is a sense that what happens in these final days could change votes. LiveNOW, FOX host Jeane Franseen spoke with political journalist. The latest on Rich Rubino.

says Robert F. Kennedy Jr Donald Trump if elected, he will push for fluoride to be removed from drinking water nationwide.

Kennedy, a former independent presidential candidate who dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump, said the order would be issued on the new administration’s first day in office. He said the Trump White House would “advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces tooth decay by replacing minerals lost through normal wear and tear. Adding low fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of them greatest public health achievements of the last century.

Kennedy, a prominent supporter of debunked public health claims, made the statement on the X social media platform.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands during a campaign rally at the Desert Diamond Arena on August 23, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo: Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

It is unclear whether Kennedy discussed Saturday’s post with Trump or his aides. The Trump campaign did not provide a direct response, and Kennedy’s spokesman did not respond to the question.

But a sudden and unexpected social media post over the weekend recalled the chaotic policymaking that defined Trump’s tenure in the White House, when he issued policy statements on Twitter at virtually all hours. It also underscored many experts’ concerns about Kennedy, who has long promoted debunked theories about vaccine safety and has influenced U.S. public health.

In 1950, federal officials approved water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay and continued to promote it even after fluoride toothpaste brands hit the market a few years later. Although fluoride can come from many sources, scientists say the main source of fluoride for Americans is drinking water.

In 2015, officials lowered recommendations for fluoride levels in drinking water to address a dental condition called fluorosis that can stain teeth and is becoming more common in U.S. children.

In August, a federal agency concluded “with moderate certainty” that there is an association between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children. The National Toxicology Program based its conclusions on studies that included fluoride levels at levels about twice the recommended limit in drinking water.

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A federal judge later cited this study when ordering the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it is uncertain whether the amount of fluoride typically added to water causes lower IQs in children, but concluded that a growing body of research shows an unreasonable risk that it may. It ordered the EPA to take steps to reduce that risk, but did not say what those measures should be.

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It’s unclear what role Kennedy might play if Trump wins on Tuesday. Kennedy recently told NewsNation that Trump asked him to “reorganize” agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and some agencies under the Department of Agriculture.

Trump often mentions that he has the support of Kennedy, the scion of the Democratic dynasty and son of former Attorney General Robert Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy.

Trump said Saturday that he told Kennedy, “You can work on food, you can work on whatever you want,” except oil policy.

“I want health, I want women’s health, I want men’s health, I want children, I want everything,” Trump added.