Del Bigtree, a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement, has taken on the role of communications director for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign. Bigtree, who heads the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), the second-largest anti-vaccine organization in the country, made a plea for donations in a letter to supporters. He emphasized Kennedy’s efforts to bridge the gap between those who advocate for censorship and those with differing opinions.
Kennedy, who shifted from Democrat to independent in October, has been a well-known vaccine skeptic. Previously associated with the Children’s Health Defense organization, the nation’s most well-funded anti-vaccine group, he resigned in April to pursue his presidential bid.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy gained prominence due to his opposition to vaccines. Despite claiming not to be anti-vaccine, reports from The Associated Press suggest he has expressed doubts about the safety of vaccines, supported the discredited link between vaccines and autism, and discouraged vaccination when COVID-19 shots became available.
In his announcement as communications director, Bigtree disseminated misleading information about the pandemic, asserting that the “dark forces of medical tyranny” orchestrated the “greatest psychological operation” worldwide. Bigtree, who remains unvaccinated, criticized both former President Trump and President Biden for entrusting the nation’s fate to Dr. Anthony Fauci.
In a bid to secure campaign funds, Bigtree appealed for $1,000 donations from supporters, promising exclusive updates and open Zoom calls to share campaign plans and engage in discussions through his “Health Think Tank” initiative.
Bigtree, known as the host of The HighWire podcast and the producer of the 2016 documentary “Vaxxed: From Cover-up to Catastrophe,” considers his role as Kennedy’s communications director the “greatest opportunity to date.” Stefanie Spear, the former communications director for the Kennedy campaign, confirmed the temporary nature of her position and expressed confidence in Bigtree’s decades of experience, while continuing in other roles for the campaign.
