Overview

• Speaking at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he can identify children with health problems by observing their faces, body movements and social cues.
• He appeared alongside Gov. Greg Abbott for the signing of state measures aligned with the 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda, including new additive warnings and restrictions on using SNAP benefits for soda and candy.
• Kennedy told attendees that in his large family he never encountered diabetes, food allergies or autism when he was growing up.
• He has recently said President Donald Trump calls him three or four times a week to press for faster improvements in national health outcomes.
• Scientists, physicians and commentators criticized the remarks as unscientific, and reporting highlighted that he misstated teen health data by asserting 38% are diabetic or prediabetic and '1 in 25' have autism despite CDC estimates of 0.35% diabetes under age 20 and roughly 1 in 31 children with autism.