President Trump is reportedly "mad" at Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for not aggressively pursuing the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Trump is said to be fixated on this false claim, viewing a reduction in childhood vaccinations as a potential legacy achievement.

Sources indicate Trump has privately expressed disappointment, telling Kennedy he has "the yips" and is not acting decisively enough on his anti-vaccine agenda. Kennedy has reportedly been surprised by this criticism, though public health experts would likely also be taken aback, given his actions to undermine vaccine recommendations.

Notable actions by Kennedy include stacking a vaccine advisory committee with anti-vaccine allies, who then altered recommendations for the hepatitis B vaccine and MMRV. He also trimmed the US childhood vaccine schedule and directed the CDC to stop promoting seasonal flu vaccines. Furthermore, he allegedly edited a CDC website to falsely link vaccines to autism.