{"id":2396736,"date":"2025-01-29T19:17:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T00:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rfk-jr-gets-tentative-support-from-tillis-after-first-senate-hearing-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T19:18:57","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T00:18:57","slug":"rfk-jr-gets-tentative-support-from-tillis-after-first-senate-hearing-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rfk-jr-gets-tentative-support-from-tillis-after-first-senate-hearing-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"RFK Jr. gets tentative support from Tillis after first Senate hearing &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frfk-jr-gets-tentative-support-from-tillis-after-first-senate-hearing-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2396736&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Robert F. \u200dKennedy Jr. \u2064has received tentative support from Senator \u2062Thom Tillis (R-NC) following his first Senate hearing for the \u200dposition\u200b of Secretary of Health and \u2064Human Services. \u2064Tillis, who expressed earlier concerns about Kennedy&#8217;s vaccine\u2062 skepticism, praised \u200bKennedy&#8217;s planning and resilience during a challenging three-hour questioning session.Kennedy will appear before the Senate Committee on \u200bHealth,education,Labor,and Pensions for further questioning,and he needs \u200bthe Finance committee&#8217;s endorsement before\u2063 a full Senate vote.Tillis, who faces \u2062reelection in 2026 and\u2062 is\u2062 a swing vote in the Senate, provided Kennedy\u200d with a more supportive line of questioning \u2062than his Democratic colleagues, allowing kennedy to address accusations of being a &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-hispanic-voters-in-florida-who-fled-dictatorships-think-the-election-was-stolen-from-trump\/\" title=\"REPORT: Hispanic Voters In Florida Who Fled Dictatorships Think The Election Was Stolen From Trump\">conspiracy theorist<\/a>.&#8221; Kennedy emphasized his intention to empower scientists and ensure that science remains free from economic\u2063 interests.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">RFK Jr. gets tentative support from key GOP senator after first Senate hearing<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1960560\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a swing vote on President Donald Trump&rsquo;s Cabinet nominees, is a &ldquo;lean yes&rdquo; on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after his<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/3304721\/rfk-jr-hearing-takeaways-vaccines-abortion-government-healthcare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Cabinet nominee's first hearing\"> first hearing<\/a> before the Senate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Tillis previously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3303595\/rfk-jr-political-headwinds-confirmation-hearings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"expressed concerns\">expressed concerns<\/a> about Kennedy, tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, over his history of vaccine skepticism but conveyed satisfaction with the explanations offered by the Trump nominee before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I thought he was well prepared. He took a lot of heat in the committee,&rdquo; Tillis told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> after a more than three-hour hearing. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s probably never been treated that way before. So, in terms of his constitution, I thought it was pretty solid.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy is set to appear on Thursday before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for a second day of questioning. He will only need to be advanced by the Finance Committee before receiving a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jan-6-committee-threatens-contempt-referrals-over-defied-subpoenas\/\" title=\"Jan. 6 Committee Threatens Contempt Referrals Over Defied Subpoenas\">full chamber vote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Tillis was a holdout to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3300153\/hegseth-confirmed-defense-secretary-vance-vote-mcconnell-rebel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"confirm Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth\">confirm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth<\/a> last week but ultimately cast the deciding vote in favor, despite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/pete-hegseth-affidavit-thom-tillis-08af5bce\">reportedly assuring<\/a> Hegseth&rsquo;s former sister-in-law that her <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">damning eleventh-hour testimony<\/a> could sway Republicans to reject his nomination.<\/p>\n<p>Tillis is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3257243\/thom-tillis-begins-rough-path-2026-reelection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"up for reelection\">up for reelection<\/a> in 2026 in the battleground state of North Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>A member of the Senate Finance Committee, Tillis presented Kennedy with a friendlier line of questioning than his Democratic colleagues. He lamented that Kennedy, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-israel-jewish-groups-united-in-opposition-to-bidens-anti-semitic-ambassador-nom\/\" title=\"Pro-Israel, Jewish Groups United in Opposition to Biden\u2019s Anti-Semitic Ambassador Nom\">facing widespread opposition<\/a> from Democrats, was likely to be a partisan confirmation based on &ldquo;shirts and skins.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Offering Kennedy an opportunity to counter his critics, Tillis inquired whether he was a &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/schiff-warns-of-precedent-that-could-be-set-with-bidens-preemptive-pardons-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Schiff warns of \u2018precedent\u2019 that could be set with Biden\u2019s preemptive pardons - Washington Examiner\">conspiracy theorist&#038;rdquo<\/a>; or if he&rsquo;s ever been found to be definitively wrong on any of his unorthodox or controversial public health views.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That is a pejorative, senator, that&rsquo;s applied to me, mainly to keep me from asking difficult questions of powerful interests,&rdquo; Kennedy responded.<\/p>\n<p>In another exchange, Tillis asked if Kennedy would undermine day-to-day scientific operations of HHS&rsquo;s umbrella agencies, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Food and Drug Administration<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">National Institutes of Health<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/aspr.hhs.gov\/AboutASPR\/ProgramOffices\/BARDA\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority<\/a>, that created the COVID-19 vaccine under the Trump-era Project Warp Speed.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Is it your intent to go in and do something that&rsquo;s ever been done before?&rdquo; Tillis said.<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy answered that it was his intent to &ldquo;empower scientists.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I want to make sure that science is unobstructed by vestiture economic interests,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Tillis also stated a desire for Kennedy, if confirmed, to reform school lunch programs and improve Medicaid.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1960560\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1960560\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RFK Jr. receives cautious backing from GOP Senator Tillis after Senate hearing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2396737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/thom-tillis-on-rfk-jr.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32458,48508,49458],"class_list":["post-2396736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-rfk-jr","tag-senate-hearing","tag-tillis-support"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/thom-tillis-on-rfk-jr.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2396736"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2396740,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396736\/revisions\/2396740"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2396737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2396736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2396736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2396736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}