phoenix – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.One of the leading proponents of . public health claims debunked The person Donald Trump promised to put in charge health initiativesTrump will push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office, he said Saturday.

Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities. replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tearAccording to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.

Kennedy made a declaration It also appeared on social media platform X, along with various claims regarding the health effects of fluoride.

“On January 20, the Trump White House will make recommendations to the entire USA. Water systems to remove fluoride from public water,” Kennedy wrote. Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, added, “Want to Make America Healthy Again,” echoing a phrase Trump often uses and has been linked to Kennedy.

It was unclear whether Kennedy discussed Saturday’s post with Trump or his aides. The Trump campaign did not respond directly, and Kennedy’s spokesman did not respond when asked.

“While President Trump has taken on a variety of policy ideas, he remains focused on Tuesday’s election,” said Danielle Alvarez, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign.

But the sudden and unexpected social media post over the weekend was a reminder of the chaotic policymaking process that characterized Trump’s tenure in the White House, where he would issue policy statements on Twitter almost every hour. It also underscored many experts’ concerns about Kennedy. long-held disproven theories on vaccine safety, which has an impact on US public health.

In 1950, federal officials approved water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay and continued to promote it even after brands of fluoride toothpaste became available several years later. Although fluoride can come from many sources, the main source for Americans is drinking water, researchers say.

Authorities downloaded In 2015, their recommendations on fluoride levels in drinking water to address a dental condition called fluorosis, which can cause stains on teeth and is becoming more common in U.S. children.

A federal agency in August determined There is “moderate confidence” that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children. The National Toxicology Program based its conclusion on studies that included fluoride levels nearly twice the recommended limit for drinking water.

A federal judge later cited this study. place an order The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to further regulate fluoride in drinking water. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it is not certain whether the amount of fluoride added to water causes lower IQs in children, but concluded that growing research points to an unreasonable risk that it might. It ordered the EPA to take steps to reduce that risk but did not say what those measures should be.

In Saturday’s X post, Kennedy tagged the lead attorney representing the plaintiff in the case, Michael Connett of the environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch.

Kennedy’s anti-vaccine organization has a lawsuit against news organizations, including the Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws for taking action to detect misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy is on leave from the group but is listed as one of the group’s attorneys in the lawsuit.

It remains unclear what role Kennedy will play if Trump wins on Tuesday. Kennedy recently told NewsNation that Trump wanted him to “reorganize” agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and some agencies within the Department of Agriculture.

But for now, the former independent presidential candidate has become one of Trump’s most important surrogates. Trump often speaks of having the support of Kennedy, who comes from a Democratic dynasty and is the son of former Attorney General Robert Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy traveled with Trump on Friday and spoke at his rallies in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Trump said Saturday that he told Kennedy, “You can work on food, you can work on anything you want,” other than oil policy.

“He wants health, he wants women’s health, he wants men’s health, he wants kids, he wants everything,” Trump said.