In a recent airing of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver cast harsh criticism towards RFK Jr. Throughout the segment, Oliver voiced concerns about the Health and Human Services Secretary’s departmental budget reductions, his opposition to vaccinations, and his recent comments about autistic individuals that Oliver deemed ‘degrading’.
Oliver was categorical on the show, declaring that RFK Jr. was ill-suited for his position. ‘It’s high time RFK stepped down,’ Oliver asserted. ‘If it takes impeachment to make it happen, so be it.’
Oliver advanced his argument by positing that RFK Jr. seemed overwhelmed and undereducated for the roles and responsibilities his position demanded. He highlighted RFK’s lack of clarity as concerning, it seemed RFK Jr. lacked fundamental knowledge about his department, including his own staffing decisions and accurate public health data.
According to Oliver, RFK’s shortcomings didn’t end there. He accused the Secretary of spreading misleading information and hampering vital medical research. Furthermore, he argued that RFK’s choice to include controversial figure David Geier in department matters exemplified RFK’s unsuitability for office. In Oliver’s own words, ‘RFK’s tenure has placed lives at risk.’
The host turned his focus towards the Health and Human Services Department’s recent cuts. ‘The approach to revamping HHS should echo the principality of a bris,’ Oliver noted, ‘It’s fundamentally important to understand explicitly what you are eliminating. Hastiness isn’t the top priority.’
Oliver held nothing back in his critique of RFK Jr.’s recent take on autistic individuals. RFK Jr. had argued that autistic children offered little to societal constructs, claiming that they would never contribute to tax revenue, secure employment, engage in standard activities, write creatively, undergo romantic relationships, or even conduct basic bathroom hygiene independently.
Offering a counterpoint, Oliver agreed that the public health system wasn’t flawless. ‘Of course, the system was far from being without issues,’ Oliver admitted. ‘There have been instances across the years where the HHS has faltered, we’ve reported on them. However, our stance has always been about reinforcement, not reduction.’
Deriding RFK’s approach further, Oliver stated, ‘Our viewpoint has never sported the motto: let’s decrease funding and install an inept individual shouting ‘Eureka!’ at the helm. But, it feels like we’re on the verge of experiencing stark realizations about the functions of our healthcare as they get removed one by one. It’s akin to becoming aware of the roles of your internal organs when they’re being excised successively.’
Oliver added that much of his on-air sentiment stemmed from the concerned testimonials of medical experts and scientists that his team had contacted over the years. These professionals, he shared, were feeling deeply impacted by recent health departmental shifts.
Relaying his sources’ reactions, Oliver shared, ‘In the wake of the election when we reached out, they were noticeably perturbed, but still suspended judgement, adopting the ‘let’s wait and see’ approach. However, their patience has given way to frank admissions of disaster.’
Echoing directly from his sources, Oliver stated, ‘This situation is disastrous. The missteps being made now will result in the loss of lives.’