Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has faced intense backlash after publicly embracing the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. In a tweet on Monday, Greene declared, “I fully believe vaccines cause Autism,” calling them “crimes against humanity” and stating that innocent children and families are the victims.
Her comments align with controversial statements made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has promoted the baseless theory that vaccines are linked to autism, despite extensive scientific evidence disproving such claims.
Greene shared a video from a right-wing account that echoed Kennedy’s assertions, including the false claim that measles exposure in childhood results in healthier adults. Kennedy dismissed government studies showing no connection between vaccines and autism, calling them corrupt.
Her tweet was immediately met with widespread criticism and fact-checking. A “Community Note” on X (formerly Twitter) linked to 19 publications, including from the CDC and Mayo Clinic, refuting her claim and stating that “vaccines do not cause autism.”
Experts and critics from across the political spectrum, including conservative think tank senior fellow Charles Fain Lehman and liberal influencer Yashar Ali, also debunked her statements, pointing to scientific studies that confirm vaccines’ safety.
Medical professionals, including Dr. Mike Varshavski and Dr. Peter Hotez, also criticized Greene’s comments. Dr. Varshavski pointed out that Kennedy’s claims about vaccines have been widely discredited, including a flawed article that had to be corrected multiple times. Dr. Hotez, an expert in vaccines, emphasized that autism is the result of genetic and neurodevelopmental processes, not vaccines.
Greene’s anti-vaccine rhetoric has drawn concern, especially as it aligns with statements made by former President Donald Trump, who recently expressed doubts about the rising autism rates and suggested that Kennedy’s research would reveal more. Trump has also voiced opposition to mandatory school vaccinations while supporting certain vaccines, like the polio vaccine.
Greene’s remarks have sparked fears about the growing influence of anti-vaccine sentiment in political circles, with some expressing alarm at the acceptance of such views within the Republican Party.