Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, is pushing for President-elect Donald Trump to appoint Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s state surgeon general, as the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
On a post on X, DeSantis stated, “Retweet if you’d like to see this man — Dr. Joseph Ladapo — serve as the Secretary of HHS in the new Trump administration,” showing Ladapo’s picture.
Ladapo was appointed to his position in by DeSantis in 2021 and reconfirmed two years later.
Retweet if you’d like to see this man — Dr. Joseph Ladapo — serve as the Secretary of HHS in the new Trump administration. cc: @FLSurgeonGen pic.twitter.com/FP6dC1sZ2W
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) November 6, 2024
On Wednesday, Ladapo tweeted, “The future of health freedom looks brighter today. Just as in Florida, it’s time to say ‘No’ to trampling on people’s rights, to gaslighting citizens about experimental vaccines that harm instead of help & to muzzling doctors who dissent with orthodoxy. Light triumphs over darkness.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., amidst controversy for claiming Trump promised him control of public health agencies, has also suggested fellow vaccine skeptic Ladapo for the role on Trump’s transition team. According to insiders, this recommendation is being considered seriously, and Ladapo will be vetted for the position.
Kennedy mentioned, “We are still talking to people and he is among the people we are talking to,” highlighting why he recommended Ladapo based on his vaccine skepticism.
Kennedy added, “He was willing to question some of the government orthodoxies to not close the schools, to not force people to wear masks, to look actually at the safety data from the vaccines, rather than just accept the words that vaccines are safe and effective.”
Trump’s transition team, in a statement, noted that the President-elect is preparing to assemble his next administration, ensuring that the implementation of Trump’s “common-sense agenda” starts on Day 1.
