Topics: Conspiracy Theories, Donald Trump, Health, Politics, Science, US News, Robert F Kennedy Jr
Robert F. Kennedy Jr is set to reveal what he alleges are the ‘causes’ of autism at a press conference in September.
The announcement came months after the political figure pledged ‘hundreds’ of scientists from ‘around the world’ would be drafted in to ‘investigate’ the disability.
71-year-old Kennedy Jr has said he believed ‘certain interventions’ are triggering autism spectrum disorder (ASD), suggesting the condition is preventable.
ASD, a lifelong developmental condition that an estimated one in 31 children has, is thought to be over three times more common among boys than girls, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Studies have found ASD exists within all socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups and, despite conspiracy theorists’ claims, there is extensive existing research showing no link between pharmaceuticals, vaccinations and autism, as per CNN Health.
In April, RFK Jr, who has served as US President Donald Trump’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary since February, said that he and his team would get to the root of the so-called ‘autism epidemic’.
He alleged ‘hundreds of scientists’ would be studying the apparent cause of ASD and that the HHS would ‘eliminate’ anything found to be causing autism, as per ABC News.
The father-of-six also claimed that he believed autism was ‘coming from an environmental toxin’.
He alleged: “Somebody made it and put that environmental toxin into our air or water or medicines or food.”
In a new update, the health secretary confirmed findings are still on track to be presented at a news conference scheduled for sometime this month.
Speaking on August 26, the politician said: “We’re finding interventions, certain interventions now that are clearly, almost certainly causing autism.
“And we’re going to be able to address those in September.”
However, according to CNN Health, the proposed autism studies had not actually started as of today (September 4).
Trump responded to RFK Jr, hailing the presumed ‘reveal’ as ‘such a big day’ for the United States.
“I'm looking forward to that day, because there's something wrong when you see the kind of numbers that you have today versus 20 years ago,” the businessman continued, as per USA Today.
“There has to be something artificially causing this, meaning, a drug or something.”
Alison Singer, founder of the nonprofit Autism Science Foundation, has since criticized Kennedy Jr’s autism press conference plans.
She said: “It’s highly unusual to announce you have the results of a study before the study even begins.”
Meanwhile, M. Remi Yergeau, a Carleton University professor and Canada Research Chair in Critical Disability Studies and Communication, has refuted RFK Jr’s claims that an autism ‘epidemic’ is sweeping the United States right now.
“Autism is not an epidemic, nor is it a disease, and nor is it preventable,” they told PBS.
“Discussing autism in such terms is scientifically inaccurate and can dehumanize autistic people and instill fear.”
