The GOP fell in line behind the president despite hesitancy over Kennedy's views on vaccines, voting 52-48, with Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who had polio as a child, the only "no" vote among Republicans.

The Senate on Thursday confirmed vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump administration.

The son of Robert F. Kennedy was one of Trump's more controversial picks, and his confirmation was met with strong objections from Democrats.

Despite several Republicans expressing deep skepticism about his views on vaccines, Kennedy is expected to win confirmation, absent any last-minute changes.

International: Nearly all Republicans fell in line behind Trump despite hesitancy over Kennedy views on vaccines, voting 52-48 to elevate the scion of one of America's most storied political - and Democratic - families to secretary of the Health and Human Services Department.

The confirmation means of Kennedy means that he will have control of USD 1.7 trillion in federal spending, vaccine recommendations and food safety as well as health insurance programmes for roughly half the country.

The longtime vaccine skeptic and "MAHA" movement leader was confirmed earlier Thursday in a near-party line Senate vote.

Kennedy Jr., a vocal vaccine skeptic and activist lawyer, was confirmed Thursday as the nation's new health secretary. The Senate voted largely along party lines to put Kennedy at the helm of the $1.7 trillion U.