RFK Tells Tennessee Lawmakers Trump Will ‘Transform’ The Health Of The Nation
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Tennessee’s capitol this week to rally support for the Trump administration’s sweeping new health agenda, telling lawmakers that President Trump is determined to “transform the health of the American people” through transparency, accountability, and food reform.
Speaking inside the historic chambers of the Tennessee Supreme Court, Kennedy addressed a full room of GOP lawmakers and invited guests. “President Trump told me that he wants every patient to be the CEO of their own healthcare,” Kennedy said, emphasizing personal empowerment through access to health data, cleaner food, and choice-driven reform.
The stop was part of Kennedy’s “Take Back Your Health” tour, a national effort to reset the government’s approach to health care by focusing on root causes like ultra-processed foods, chronic disease, and regulatory capture. Outside the chamber, a handful of hecklers protested Kennedy’s vaccine positions, but inside, his reception was overwhelmingly positive.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson introduced Kennedy, noting that while Tennessee leads in many areas, it lags behind in overall health. “We have to face the facts—on infant mortality, diabetes, and obesity, we have a long way to go,” Johnson said. The state currently ranks 44th in the nation in health outcomes, according to HHS data.
Kennedy said part of that failure comes from what he called decades of bad nutritional guidance. In January, his department officially “flipped” the federal food pyramid, warning against sugar-heavy and ultra-processed foods and urging Americans to eat more whole foods, healthy fats, and clean proteins. “If you want a Coca-Cola or a Krispy Kreme, this is America. But we’ll tell you what the cost is,” Kennedy said.
He pointed to the government’s $405 million per day in spending on public nutrition programs, arguing that reforming standards for school lunches, SNAP, and other subsidies could dramatically improve the national diet and drive farmers toward producing healthier food. “We’re not telling Americans what to eat. We’re telling them what’s good for them,” Kennedy said.
Tennessee has already taken steps to tighten standards. In December, the state banned the use of SNAP funds for soda, energy drinks, and candy—joining a small but growing coalition of Republican-led states attempting to shift taxpayer money away from junk food.
State Rep. Bryan Terry, chairman of the House Health Committee, said the effort is about respecting liberty while expecting better decisions. “We’re not banning Big Gulps,” Terry said. “But sometimes liberty leads to bad choices, and that doesn’t mean the taxpayer has to fund it.”
Kennedy closed by praising Tennessee’s willingness to lead on tough reforms. “What starts in Tennessee can ripple out across the country,” he said. “President Trump’s mission is to make this the healthiest nation on Earth, and I’m here to help make that happen.”