Leading anti-vaccine activist joins RFK Jr. campaign as communications director

Del Bigtree, a leading anti-vaccine activist, has joined Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign as communications director.

in Letter to supportersBig Tree appealed for donations and said Kennedy was healing the rift between Americans “those who censor and those who oppose them.”

Kennedy, who switched from being a Democrat to an independent candidate in October, is a well-known vaccine skeptic. In April, he resigned from the Children's Health Defense Group, the nation's top-funded anti-vaccination group, to run for president.

Bigtree is the executive director of the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), the nation's second-highest-funded anti-vaccination group.News about his new role was first NBC News reported.

Kennedy rose to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic because of his opposition to vaccines.

Although he claims he is not anti-vaccine and has never told the public to avoid vaccination, Associated Press reported President Kennedy said there is no safe vaccine, believes in the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism, and said he believes in the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism, and that children should not be vaccinated against COVID-19 when they become available. urged people to refrain from vaccination.

In a letter announcing his new position, Mr. Bigtree says he is spreading misinformation about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and that the “shadowy medical tyrannical forces” are carrying out the “biggest psychological operation” in the world. said that it had started.

Bigtree, who has not been vaccinated, criticized former President Trump and President Biden for “placing the fate of our country in the hands of Dr. Anthony Facuy.”

He said serving as Kennedy's communications director was “the greatest opportunity I've ever had,” as he has stood alongside him on stages at health freedom conferences across the country.

Big Tree asked supporters for $1,000 campaign contributions and said he would provide updates directly from him that “nobody else will receive.” He said he plans to hold an open Zoom call to share his plans for the campaign and brainstorm with supporters what he calls a “health think tank.”

Bigtree is the host of the anti-vaccine podcast The HighWire and produced the 2016 documentary “Vaxxed: From Cover-up to Catastrophe.”

Stephanie Speer, former communications director for the Kennedy campaign, acknowledged in an email that her position is temporary until “the right person for the job” is found. She said Bigtree is that person and she has decades of experience.

Spear will continue to serve as the campaign's press secretary and director of media relations.

— Updated at 5:23 p.m.