Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s alternating views on vaccines, reproductive rights and public health issues were a central focus at his first confirmation hearing Wednesday, with Democratic senators expressing dismay at his nomination and Republicans signaling he’ll likely have their support.

Vermont Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch, along with New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan, were among lawmakers Wednesday from both parties grilling Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick for health secretary.

President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was in the hot seat Wednesday as he was peppered with more than three hours of detailed questions from senators during the first of two confirmation hearings.

Kennedy was pressed to clarify his views on vaccines, abortion and public health priorities in the first of two senate hearings scheduled.

Kennedy said he agreed with Trump's views on the program and on abortion, including believing laws regulating the procedure should be left up to the states. "I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy. I agree we cannot be a moral nation if we have 1.2 million abortions," Kennedy said.

In the first of two confirmation hearings, senators on the Finance Committee stuck to party lines when questioning Kennedy.

In a contentious confirmation hearing to become the nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled to answer questions about Medicare and Medicaid, programs that affect tens

In a contentious confirmation hearing to become the nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled to answer questions

WASHINGTON — In a contentious confirmation hearing to become the nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled to answer questions about Medicare and Medicaid, programs that affect tens of millions of Americans, or to provide details about how he would work to drive down health care costs.

Senators grilled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on vaccines, abortion and Medicaid in his confirmation hearing to lead HHS. RFK Jr. has another hearing Thursday.

WASHINGTON: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came under withering attack from Democratic senators on Wednesday over his history of promoting vaccine misinformation and his sudden embrace of anti-abortion policies during a high-stakes confirmation hearing to become US President Donald Trump's health secretary.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s confirmation hearings began Wednesday before the Senate Finance Committee. He appears before the Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee on Thursday. Experts generally agree and have been concerned about this for years, especially rising rates of obesity and diabetes.