Pence says he opposes RFK Jr.’s nomination for HHS secretary because of his stance on abortion

Former Vice President Mike Pence made his opposition to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s nomination to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services unequivocal on Friday.

“The Trump-Pence administration was unapologetically pro-life in our four years in office. There are hundreds of decisions made at HHS every day that either move our nation toward respect for life or away from it, and HHS under our administration always stood firm. for life,” Pence said in a lengthy statement on the website of his nonprofit Advancing American Freedom on Friday.

“I believe the nomination of RFK Jr. to serve as Secretary of HHS is an abrupt departure from our administration’s pro-life record and should be deeply troubling to millions of Pro-Life Americans who have supported the Republican party and our nominees for decades.”

Pence argued that Kennedy has “defended abortion on demand for all nine months of pregnancy” for most of his career and supports overturning the Dobbs decision and codifying Roe v. Wade.

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Former Vice President Mike Pence said he opposes Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

“If confirmed, RFK, Jr. would be the most pro-abortion Republican appointed Secretary of HHS in modern history,” Pence wrote.

President-elect Trump announced Thursday that he was nominating Kennedy to lead the agency, as he had said he would during the campaign.

“I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and pharmaceutical companies that have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation, when it comes to public health,” Trump said in his announcement.

President-elect Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead HHS this week. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Kennedy was often seen with Trump in the last few months of the campaign after he dropped his independent bid for the White House and endorsed the Republican nominee.

Pence, who served as Trump’s vice president during Trump’s first term, did not run with him again in 2024 and declined to endorse Trump.

Kennedy has flip-flopped on abortion. In May, he said a woman should be able to have an abortion at full term, which he later backtracked, saying there should be restrictions at some point in the pregnancy. And last year he said he supported a 15-week abortion ban before his campaign said he misspoke.

Pence served as President-elect Trump’s vice president during Trump’s first term. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

On his campaign website, he said he would support legislation to overturn the Dobbs decision, according to The Hill.

Last month, Trump said he would veto any attempt at a national abortion ban, saying it is a problem for the states.

Liberals are also worried about Kennedy’s nomination because of his controversial positions on vaccines, fluoride in water and other issues.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Kennedy for comment.