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President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy is a former Democratic presidential candidate and a big supporter of bitcoin. Trump’s team is filled with crypto advocates, including VP-elect JD Vance and Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth.
Kennedy has been vocal about his support for cryptocurrency. During his 2024 campaign, he suggested creating a bitcoin reserve to help stabilize the U.S. dollar. He also wanted to exempt bitcoin profits from capital gains tax. Plus, he shared that a significant part of his wealth is in bitcoin. He’s pushing for a friendlier regulatory environment for crypto in the U.S.
In a statement released late Thursday, Trump expressed excitement about Kennedy's nomination. He said, “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception regarding public health.”
Kennedy's endorsement of Trump and his potential role in the administration have sparked a lot of discussions. He comes from the famous Kennedy family, historically tied to the Democratic Party. Initially, he aligned with Democratic ideals. But his views, especially on vaccines, have shifted. This became clear during his 2024 campaign, which he launched as an independent after struggling as a Democratic candidate. He suspended his campaign in August to endorse Trump.
Trump, who had previously criticized Kennedy, now sees him as key to “Make America Healthy Again.” This is a slogan that Kennedy adopted after supporting Trump. Trump emphasized that health and safety are top priorities. He stated that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will play a crucial role in protecting citizens from harmful substances that contribute to health crises.
“Mr. Kennedy will restore these agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research,” Trump said. He added that Kennedy will help end the chronic disease epidemic and make America great and healthy again. In response, Kennedy expressed eagerness to work with the department’s staff to improve Americans' health. “Together, we will clean up corruption and return our health agencies to their tradition of evidence-based science,” he stated.
Michael Saylor, founder of MicroStrategy and a fellow bitcoin supporter, congratulated Kennedy on his nomination. However, it’s important to note that high-level federal nominees, like the Secretary of Health, need Senate confirmation to officially take their roles.
If confirmed, Kennedy would join Trump’s increasingly pro-crypto team. Recently, Trump confirmed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This announcement led to a notable increase in the price of the associated memecoin.
Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur who previously ran against Trump for the Republican nomination, later endorsed him. Trump stated, “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy and cut wasteful expenditures.”
On the same day, Trump nominated Pete Hegseth, a 15-year army veteran and bitcoin holder, for Secretary of Defense. After Trump’s election victory on November 5, Hegseth remarked that the President-elect was “making bitcoin great again” as its price surged above $80,000. “All it took was signaling to that market that they weren’t going to be overregulated,” he said.
Trump’s transition team includes aides who support cryptocurrency. VP-elect JD Vance also disclosed his bitcoin holdings and backing for the industry. A significant upcoming nomination is for the replacement of current SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Reports suggest Dan Gallagher, Chief Legal Officer at Robinhood, is the front-runner.
Gensler has often been viewed as hostile to the crypto industry, initiating enforcement actions against major players during his time. However, in a recent speech, he hinted that his time at the agency may soon end.