WATCH: ABC News panelists throw fit over RFK Jr. daring to question medical establishment

Panelists on ABC’s “This Week” erupted Sunday after former Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus defended Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s attempt to “balance the benefits” of COVID-19 vaccines against their “admitted risks.”

Tensions flared Thursday during a Senate Finance Committee hearing as Democrats hammered Kennedy for criticizing agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and for questioning vaccine recommendations for children. With former Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie arguing Kennedy doesn’t belong in his role, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos chimed in, saying Trump “wants to brag about Operation Warp Speed” while “promoting a vaccine skeptic.”

“Well, on one hand, for sure, Operation Warp Speed was a marvel,” Priebus responded. “I think the president deserves a lot of credit for it. But he also had no time to think. They had to move forward at a record pace, and they did it. But where I disagree with Chris is I watched all three and a half hours of that hearing. I saw somebody different. I saw a decent, humble, caring guy. I think he’s trying to do the right thing.”

Christie fired back at Priebus, questioning his description of the HHS secretary as “humble.”

“Yeah, I think he is. And you know what?” Preibus asked. “He’s trying to balance the benefits of the COVID shot versus some of the admitted risks that the CDC has — ”

The panel erupted into crosstalk as members tried to speak over Priebus. The former RNC chair could be heard saying, “Okay, so you all know better,” before Christie jumped back in to call out Kennedy.

“I’m just gonna listen to what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said for 20 years. For 20 years, he has been a vaccine denier. Now, what you’re seeing around the country is people like Ron DeSantis in Florida saying, let’s get rid of all vaccine mandates,” Christie said. “This would not be happening if Donald Trump had not put the greatest public health denier of the last 20 years in charge of it.”

In June, Kennedy led a sweeping shakeup at the CDC, firing 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and then-Director Susan Monarez later in August.

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During Thursday’s hearing, Democrats pressed him on the ACIP overhaul and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approvals of COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy pushed back, blasting the CDC’s “disastrous” pandemic response and its “nonsensical policies” like closing small businesses and masking children. At one point during the hearing, he accused Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren point-blank of taking major contributions from pharmaceutical companies after she accused him of taking away the COVID-19 vaccine.

The argument between Christie and Priebus continued, with Priebus stating that the COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t “have to be mandated.” Former DNC Chair Donna Brazile then jumped in, claiming Kennedy had cut “over half a billion dollars from these life-saving vaccines.”

“They can get the shot! They’re not taking away the shot,” Priebus said as Brazile continued to speak. “Certain groups of people in the United States actually don’t need to take the shot. Don’t you agree with that? So it doesn’t need to be mandated.”

With Brazile continuing to press her point about access to the COVID-19 vaccine, Priebus asked her what percentage of kids she believed actually received it. However, Stephanopoulos then joined in, pushing back on Priebus’ argument by saying Kennedy is “raising questions about vaccines across the board,” not just COVID-19.

“So we should dismiss any person on the face of the earth that has a question about vaccine mandates?” Priebus asked.

“If they’re scientists, we should listen to the scientists. Listen to the facts,” Brazile said.

The former RNC chairman noted that Brazile is “not a scientist,” as Christie asked Priebus if he believes Kennedy “is the best man to be leading public health.”

“It’s not my decision,” Priebus responded as Christie could be heard yelling over him “It’s the president’s decision .. I support his decision.”

Christie continued yelling over Priebus as he tried to make his point, calling Kennedy a “joke,” before the former RNC chairman responded that Christie doesn’t have the authority to decide who is the best fit for the position.

“I think he’s the best person,” Priebus said. “And I think that the president of the United States has the mandate that you don’t.”

Despite former President Joe Biden pledging in 2020 not to implement a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, he eventually imposed multiple mandates after taking office. With private companies following the federal requirements, many workers were forced to take the vaccine or risk losing their jobs. In 2021, former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s mandate for service members led to the discharge of over 8,000 who refused.

With the COVID-19 vaccine still available, the FDA in May announced it would require more evidence to support the previous recommendation that Americans receive a yearly COVID-19 booster, even for healthy adults.

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