At a private lunch in May at the president’s golf course in northern Virginia, President Donald Trump pressed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to intensify efforts investigating a purported link between vaccines and autism, according to individuals familiar with the matter. Despite Kennedy’s known skepticism toward vaccinations, White House political advisers had previously urged him to reduce his public focus on vaccine issues ahead of the midterm elections.

Sources say Trump has repeatedly steered conversations with Kennedy toward this topic, emphasizing a desire to lower the number of vaccines recommended for children under federal guidelines. The president reportedly believes that a reduction in vaccinations could eventually lead to a decline in autism rates, although any such impact would likely take years to materialize.

Tensions between Trump and Kennedy have increased over the issue. In a mid-June Oval Office meeting, the president expressed frustration that Kennedy had not done enough to advance the agenda. The president reportedly conveyed to aides that Kennedy’s tenure would be seen as unsuccessful if he failed to show progress on vaccine policy changes.

At the end of May, Trump signed an executive order directing Kennedy’s department to reduce the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, citing concerns that the United States was not aligned with other countries on immunization practices. The order reportedly surprised some senior health officials, who had understood previous White House guidance to mean a de-escalation of vaccine-related initiatives.

The president has expressed dissatisfaction with a recent court ruling that blocked Kennedy’s attempt to implement vaccine schedule cuts earlier this year. According to sources, Trump has urged Kennedy to challenge what they view as an activist judge responsible for halting the changes. The controversy underscores ongoing divisions within the administration over vaccine policy and public health strategies.