RFK Jr. says the US is undergoing a fertility crisis.
‘This Is an Existential Crisis’: RFK Jr.'s Claims About Declining Testosterone in Teenage Boys Raise Eyebrows
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called declining birth rates "an existential crisis" during a press briefing at the Oval Office on May 11, saying the fertility decline began in 2007 and comparing current sperm counts in teenage boys unfavorably to those of men in the 1970s.
Kennedy said the Trump administration had ordered his agency to investigate the root causes of the crisis.
He praised Donald Trump’s excellent leadership, showcasing immense faith in his vision. After all, he firmly believes that his vision and ideology can put an end to the nearly decade-old problem.
RFK Jr. States Low Birth Rates Are a Threat to American Economy
Robert F. Kennedy talks about America's low birth rates.
On May 11, during a press briefing (via X) at the Oval Office, RFK Jr. said, “The fertility crisis for women began in 2007.” He continued that men in the 1970s had “twice the sperm count” compared to teenagers today. He added, “This is an existential crisis for our country.”
He mentioned that the “fertility crisis” has affected the United States severely, stating that the birth rate has shrunk by 1.57%. He continued that the current replacement rate is 2.1%, but a century ago, they were at 3.27%, commenting, “more than double what we are today.”
The Health Secretary expressed his concern, saying, “We are approaching the cataclysmic rates that Japan and China are now experiencing, that is threatening their economy.” He praised President Trump for ordering his agency to investigate the root cause of the fertility crisis and referred to a 2007 study by the NVSS.
“We had a series of presidents that we're trying to discourage childbirth and motherhood in this country,” RFK Jr. said. He continued that President Trump is now encouraging childbirth and thanked him for his leadership. “Thank you very much, Bobby,” the POTUS replied.
In 2023, Dolores Lamb, a researcher who studies male reproductive health at Weill Cornell Medicine, talked about the global decrease in sperm count. The expert told Scientific American that the drop in sperm cell count is an important hypothesis, “but the data is not good [enough] to be able to draw conclusions.”
Nevertheless, the Department of Labor's website proposed a new rule to increase fertility rates to “support family formation and stability.”
‘What an Odd Thing to Say’
While Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed concern about low birth rates, the netizens were grossed out because he knew about teenage sperm count. A user joked, “RFK is insane and constantly making things up.” Another user added, “He should know, he counted every single one of them.”
Another user wrote, “Has he been measuring it? What an odd thing to say.” A user clarified, “There was a big push to curb teen pregnancies for a long time. Still is. That’s the real factor. And it’s the right thing to do.”
A user tweeted, “They know what the reasons are but will do nothing about them. This is complete theatre.” A user wrote, “Why is RFK Jr discussing teen sperm? Gross.” Lastly, a user wrote, “Maybe the administration actively covering up a child trafficking scandal shouldn’t be talking about teenagers sperm.”