Who is Joseph Ladapo? Florida’s Controversial Health Chief Eyed for Federal Role in Trump-Kennedy Era

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has once again thrust himself into the national spotlight, recently vowing to eliminate all vaccine mandates in the state, including for children. This announcement, made on Wednesday, comes as Dr. Ladapo is increasingly seen as a key figure in the evolving national health policy landscape under the newly formed administration of President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Ladapo, a vocal vaccine skeptic, has reportedly been under consideration by the Trump administration for a top role, including the directorship of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) earlier this year. This speculation intensified following the recent firing of Dr. Susan Monarez from the CDC post, opening a critical leadership position at a time when the Trump-Kennedy administration is actively pushing for significant changes to the nation’s vaccine and immunization policies.

An immigrant from Nigeria with dual degrees from Harvard University, including a medical degree and a PhD in health policy, Ladapo assumed the role of Florida’s Surgeon General in September 2021. Throughout his tenure, he has frequently challenged established public health guidance, particularly concerning Covid-19 vaccines and mitigation measures. He gained significant attention during the pandemic for issuing notices that contradicted federal health authorities and for analyses that were criticized by many medical experts as relying on shaky science.

Among his most controversial actions, Ladapo issued a notice in 2022 warning of an “abnormally high risk of cardiac-related death” for young men who took the Covid-19 vaccine, an assessment widely disputed by public health experts. In 2023, POLITICO reported that he had altered a state-driven study on vaccines to suggest higher risks of cardiac death than initially indicated. His recent declaration to end all vaccine mandates in Florida, which he controversially likened to slavery, underscores his steadfast opposition to such requirements.

As President Trump and Health Secretary Kennedy Jr. move to reshape federal health policy, Ladapo’s prominent stance and past actions position him for potentially even greater national influence and scrutiny, making his background and views a critical subject of public interest.

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