Donald Trump’s selection of a long-time health researcher to lead the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has sparked a significant backlash from the right-wing community. This outrage has been fueled by Maga influencers and Trump supporters, who are denouncing Susan Monerez and spinning conspiracy theories about her alleged connections to the CIA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa).
On various social media platforms, including X, Truth Social, and across right-wing “alt-tech” sites, there has been an aggressive response to the news of Monerez continuing in her acting role at the CDC. This follows the withdrawal of Trump’s initial nominee, David Weldon, who has a history of supporting anti-vaccination theories.
The storm of opposition from conspiracy theorists and science deniers within the anti-vaccine faction highlights the power of this group within Trump’s sphere, as it quickly prompted Trump’s Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, Robert F Kennedy, to defend the appointment on X.
Kennedy defended Monerez, stating that she is a proponent of MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) values and a distinguished microbiologist and technology expert who will steer the CDC towards public health and scientific integrity.
Monerez, an immunologist with extensive government service, faces criticism centered on anti-vaccination beliefs that have become prevalent among a segment of Trump’s base since the Covid-19 pandemic. Kennedy, known for his fringe views on vaccines and health, has an agenda labeled as “Make America Healthy Again.”
Activists and critics on X, including one named John Sabal, have painted Monerez’s appointment as contrary to the MAHA agenda and linked it to broader conspiracy theories involving Starlink, mRNA vaccines, and AI governance.
Moreover, the opposition to Monerez has also manifested on Trump’s Truth Social platform, with users linking her to conspiracy theories and outrage over her support for research funded by Bill Gates’s foundation. The backlash has extended to right-wing media, with hosts like Grant Stinchfield and David Knight condemning the nomination.
The controversy reflects Trump’s own mixed record on vaccines, shifting between embracing anti-vaxxer support and taking credit for the development of mRNA vaccines during his first term.
In the weeks leading up to Monerez’s nomination, the CDC announced plans to study any links between vaccines and autism – a belief held by many anti-vaxxers despite being based on debunked pseudoscience and conspiracy theories.
Monerez’s nomination comes during Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s ongoing campaign against federal agencies, further destabilizing the CDC. Several senior officials, including the heads of key offices and the communications director, have reportedly left the agency following the announcement.
Despite Kennedy’s defense of Monerez, the outcry from Maha figures continues, with figures like Stella Immanuel calling for mRNA injections to be banned, Anthony Fauci to be prosecuted, and vaccine mandates to be lifted from schools.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/28/trump-pick-cdc-maga-backlash
