Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.
Kennedy made the declaration on the social media platform X, alongside a variety of claims about the heath effects of fluoride.
"On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all US water systems to remove fluoride from public water," Kennedy wrote.
The only president that is going to get toxins out of our food is Donald J. Trump. Get out and vote, America. Let's Make America Healthy Again. 🇺🇸 — Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) pic.twitter.com/t98aJ2HJsaNovember 3, 2024
Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, "want to Make America Healthy Again", he added, repeating a phrase Trump often uses and links to Kennedy.
It was not clear if Kennedy discussed Saturday's post with Trump or his aides. The Trump campaign did not answer directly, and a spokesperson for Kennedy did not respond when asked.Â
"While President Trump has received a variety of policy ideas, he is focused on Tuesday's election," Danielle Alvarez, Trump campaign senior advisor, said.
But the sudden and unexpected weekend social media post evoked the chaotic policymaking that defined Trump's White House tenure, when he would issue policy declarations on Twitter at virtually all hours.Â
It also underscored the concerns many experts have about Kennedy, who has long promoted debunked theories about vaccine safety, having influence over US public health.
In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and continued to promote it even after fluoride toothpaste brands hit the market several years later. Though fluoride can come from a number of sources, drinking water is the main source for Americans, researchers say.
What role Kennedy might hold if Trump wins on Tuesday remains unclear.
Kennedy recently told NewsNation that Trump asked him to "reorganise" agencies including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and some agencies under the Department of Agriculture.
But for now, the former independent presidential candidate has become one of Trump's top surrogates.
Trump frequently mentions having the support of Kennedy, a scion of a Democratic dynasty and the son of former Attorney-General Robert Kennedy and nephew of President John F Kennedy.Â
