WATCH: Jen Psaki Left Stammering After Guest Defends Trump’s RFK Jr. Nomination: ‘Let’s Not Forget’

On her MSNBC show, former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki found herself grappling for words after a guest’s pointed defense of former President Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Lanhee J. Chen, a conservative policy expert and former senior advisor, pushed back against Psaki’s critique of Trump’s nomination, drawing a sharp comparison to past appointments by Democratic administrations. Chen’s comments drew attention to what he described as a pattern of politically expedient choices rather than selections based solely on relevant expertise.

“We have seen nominations before from presidents of both parties where there have been ethical and substantive issues,” Chen said during the segment. “Let’s not forget, we had a nominee for HHS secretary in this administration who had never dealt with health care before being nominated.”

Chen’s remarks were an apparent reference to Xavier Becerra, the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Biden administration.

Becerra faced significant criticism during his confirmation process for lacking direct experience in health care administration, despite his background as California’s attorney general. His tenure as AG largely involved litigation against health care companies and advocacy for progressive policies, but this fell short of the expertise required to lead an agency as critical as HHS.

“Look, I’m not here to defend…” Psaki began before pivoting. “He was the attorney general for the state of California. This is a little bit of a difference. This is a little bit of a difference.”

Chen countered, noting that Becerra’s primary experience related to litigation involving healthcare companies rather than direct engagement with healthcare policy or administration. “So he had experience suing health care companies, but not anything to do with health care,” Chen retorted.

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Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and the son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, has been a polarizing figure due to his outspoken views on vaccines and public health policies.

Following the announcement of Kennedy’s nomination, stocks of major vaccine manufacturers experienced notable declines. Companies like Pfizer, Moderna, and BioNTech saw their shares drop, reflecting investor apprehension about future vaccine policies under Kennedy’s leadership according to MarketWatch.

If confirmed, Kennedy would oversee a vast department responsible for various health-related agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His leadership could influence policies on vaccines, public health initiatives, and regulatory approaches to pharmaceuticals and food safety.

“Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!” Trump announced on Thursday amid a week filled with cabinet nominations.

“I’m going to make sure scientific safety studies and efficacy are out there, and people can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them,” Kennedy told NewsNation earlier in November.

So far, key Senate Republicans have shown reactions ranging from enthusiasm to cautious openness.

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