Trump skips fluoride action in first days of presidency
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, promised in November 2024 that the Trump administration would advise states to end water fluoridation on day one of the Trump presidency—but that didn’t happen despite Trump signing a flurry of executive orders on other issues.
According to Politico on January 21, neither Trump nor Kennedy’s office had responded to multiple requests for comment about the administration’s fluoride policies.
One reason why Trump may have stayed quiet on water fluoridation is that Kennedy’s nomination is languishing, according to US News. While many of Trump's nominees are expected to pass with "slim margins," Kennedy's controversial views on a range of health issues have created skepticism about his candidacy across party lines.
Fluoride has long been a contentious issue, even among dental professionals, whose opinions about its proper use and safety can vary widely, but Trump’s reelection has brought a newly charged controversy to its role in American public health.
On January 19, the American Dental Association published a sponsored editorial in The Washington Post calling for, among other things, “maintaining a robust community water fluoridation initiative … which adjusts the level of naturally occurring fluoride in water to combat tooth decay.”
Catch up on some of our previous coverage of the water fluoridation debate here.
About the Author
Amelia Williamson DeStefano
Market Content Director
Amelia Williamson DeStefano, MA, is market content director of Endeavor Business Media’s Dental Group, where she leads content strategy for Dental Economics, RDH, DentistryIQ, and Perio-Implant Advisory. With a background in editorial leadership and audience development, she focuses on delivering clinically relevant, evidence-based content that supports better patient care and stronger practice outcomes. She holds a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Tulsa.