Robert F Kennedy Jr. took Sen. Bernie Sanders to the woodshed during his confirmation hearing, confronting the Vermont lawmaker on Big Pharma campaign contributions.
The explosive moment unfolded Thursday as Kennedy faced lawmakers in an often contentious hearing to determine if he would be named President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services.
“If we want to make America healthy, will you assure the American people that you will fight to do what every other major country on earth does—guarantee healthcare to every single American?” Sanders, a universal healthcare advocate, asked Kennedy.
“I’m going to make America healthier than any other country in the world right now,” replied the former Democrat who suspended his presidential bid and backed Trump in the 2024 election.
“Will you guarantee to do what every other major country is? It’s a simple question,” Sanders, himself a two-time presidential candidate, pressed.
“The problem of corruption is not just in the federal agencies, it’s in Congress too. Almost all the members of this panel are accepting, including yourself, millions of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry to protect their interests,” Kennedy said, igniting the independent senator.
“Oh no, no, no… No, no, no. I ran for president like you. I got millions and millions of contributions. They did not come from the executives. Not one nickel of PAC money from the pharmaceutical industry! They came from workers,” Sanders exclaimed.
“In 2020, you were the single largest recipient of pharmaceutical dollars,” Kennedy fired back.
“Workers from all over this country—workers with a skill—gave to my campaign,” Sanders insisted. “Not a nickel from corporate money.”
The back and forth continued as they spoke over each other until Sanders tried to move on.
Noting that he had gone over his time, one senator could be heard complaining, “Chairman, we’re literally three minutes over here now. How long does it keep going?”
“At some time you’re just battering the witness,” he said.
“I’m not battering the witness. I’m just trying to get an answer,” Sanders shot back.
Kennedy also schooled Sanders in another exchange when he was badgered about whether healthcare is a “human right.”
RFK just gave a flawless answer to Bernie Sanders asking if health care is a human right.
Bet Sanders didn’t expect an answer this intelligent… he interrupted RFK IMMEDIATELY.
SANDERS: Is it a human right? Yes or no?
RFK: In the way that free speech is? It’s different,… pic.twitter.com/JR9UpdAB0A
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 29, 2025
Social media users applauded the moment RFK Jr. called out Sanders’ Big Pharma donations.
RFK Jr. knew Bernie would try and deny it and he was ready with the receipts.
The left isn’t used to people being ready for their shenanigans.
— Simon Unleashed (@SimonSaysKnow) January 30, 2025
Long distance view of Senator Sanders after Kennedy pushed back pic.twitter.com/MbNmxBcpgb
— No Fashion Sense (@pladpants) January 30, 2025
“By the way, Bernie…”
— Trump/Vance2024 (@clk1218) January 31, 2025
Absolutely hilarious. RFK Jr. owned Bernie beautifully.
— Ricardo (@Ricardonasher) January 31, 2025
They all forget, RFKjr was fighting and litigating for decades while they were lying and profitting off their constituents. And he has all the receipts.
— Kathryn (@traumakitty9) January 30, 2025
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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