13.02.2026 01:40
One of Trump's most trusted figures, U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines with a shocking honesty about his past. Kennedy, at the forefront of public health, put an end to the discussions about germs. "In the past, I was someone who used drugs in unsanitary bathrooms. If I don't control this addiction, it will kill me. The real issue is not the germs, but survival," Kennedy emphasized that he would use his experience to address the national health crisis.
U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made candid statements about his past struggles with addiction. Secretary Kennedy emphasized that he is "not afraid of germs," while recounting how he disregarded hygiene conditions during his darkest times.
"FOR ME, THE REAL THREAT WAS NOT GERMS, BUT ADDICTION"
Secretary Kennedy recalled in a broadcast that he has been living a life free from addiction for about 43 years. He stated that he continued to attend support meetings even during the pandemic, expressing his priorities during that time with the following words:
"I am not afraid of germs. In the past, I was someone who used drugs even in toilet environments where there was no trace of hygiene. If I do not keep this disease, that is, addiction, under control, it will kill me. Therefore, for me, the real issue was not germs, but survival."
"AS A RECOVERED ADDICT, I AM AT THE HEAD OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM"
RFK Jr., who took office in February 2025 after Senate approval, describes this challenging process in his past not as a "weakness," but rather as an "experience" to understand the substance abuse crisis in the U.S.
The Secretary argues that his own story of hitting rock bottom will guide him in shaping the country's rehabilitation and mental health policies.
Kennedy presents his views on how the immune system weakens in overly sterile environments, showcasing his past as an example of resilience.
Secretary Kennedy is also a figure who frequently questions the safety of vaccines and makes scientifically unproven claims regarding this issue.
TRANSPARENCY OR A CONTROVERSIAL STYLE?
The Secretary's candor has led to two different opinions in Washington. Supporters say, "We have a Secretary who speaks like a regular person for the first time and does not hide his mistakes," while opponents claim that a person managing the world's largest health budget at $1.8 trillion using such expressions could harm the "public health authority."