**Lutnick Embraces Kennedy's Anti-Vaccine Stance Amid Trump's Potential Return**

Howard Lutnick, the individual leading the planning for Donald Trump's prospective White House transition, has recently stated that he has been swayed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s controversial views on vaccines. In an interview with CNN, Lutnick reaffirmed Kennedy's debunked claims, drawing substantial concern over potential future public health policies.

Lutnick revealed that he engaged in a two-and-a-half-hour conversation with Kennedy this week, where he adopted the false assertion that childhood vaccines cause autism. This baseless claim originates from a 1998 study that has since been thoroughly discredited and retracted.

During the interview, Lutnick cited a 1986 law that protects vaccine manufacturers from civil liability as evidence of increased vaccine risk. This law, designed to establish a federal compensation program for adverse effects—which occur very rarely—did not alter the rigorous safety and approval processes mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Ignoring these extensive testing and approval requirements, Lutnick challenged CNN's Kaitlan Collins, asking, "Why do you think vaccines are safe? There's no product liability anymore." This statement underscores his skepticism of the established safety protocols for vaccines.

The possibility of Kennedy securing a position in a Trump administration raises concerns about the impact on public health policy, especially given his stance on vaccines. The alignment of influential figures like Lutnick with anti-vaccine rhetoric could significantly shape the discourse on vaccination and public health if Trump returns to office.