‘Oh No, No, No!’ Bernie Sanders Throws Down With RFK Jr Over Who Took Big Pharma Contributions

During a heated exchange on Thursday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) sparred with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over whether or not he took campaign contributions from big pharma. The two mixed words during Kennedy’s confirmation hearing to be President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Sanders, a staunch advocate for universal healthcare, kicked off the exchange by asking Kennedy to support his position. “If we want to make America healthy, will you assure the American people that you will fight to do what every other major country on earth does—guarantee healthcare to every single American?” Sanders asked.

“I’m going to make America healthier than any other country in the world right now,” replied Kennedy, who faced contentious questioning throughout the hearing on his past criticism of vaccines.

“Will you guarantee to do what every other major country is? It’s a simple question,” Sanders hit back.

Kennedy replied by accusing Sanders of being in the pocket of big pharma, “The problem of corruption is not just in the federal agencies, it’s in Congress too. Almost all the members of this panel are accepting, including yourself, millions of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry to protect their interests.”

As some present applauded, Sanders loudly interjected, “Oh no, no, no… No, no, no. I ran for president like you. I got millions and millions of contributions. They did not come from the executives. Not one nickel of PAC money from the pharmaceutical industry. They came from workers.”

Kennedy fired back, “In 2020, you were the single largest recipient of pharmaceutical dollars.”

Sanders refuted that claim, saying, “Workers from all over this country—workers with a skill—gave to my campaign.”

“Not a nickel from corporate money,” he added.

The two continued to speak over each other as they argued the point. The committee chairman began to gavel Sanders down as the Vermont senator insisted Kennedy answer the question.

Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.