WASHINGTON — Gwen Walz, the wife of former vice presidential candidate and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is speaking out against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s rhetoric about autism after he said this week that the developmental disability “destroys families.” 

What You Need To Know

  • Gwen Walz, the wife of former vice presidential candidate and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is speaking out against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s rhetoric about autism
  • Kennedy on Wednesday gave a press conference following the release of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on autism in which he said the disorder destroys families and children, adding that they will never pay taxes, hold a job or play baseball 
  • he Walz’ have spoken out about their son, Gus Walz, having a non-verbal learning disorder, ADHD and an anxiety disorder, which they described as his "secret power” to PEOPLE in August
  • Autism has been a major focus for Kennedy dating back long before he was selected to lead the Health and Human Services Department. He has previously, without evidence, sought to link autism to childhood vaccination

In a post on X on Thursday that included a clip of the secretary’s remarks, Walz called the comments “deeply upsetting,” adding ”especially coming from our nation’s highest-ranking health official.”

“Individuals with autism are family, neighbors, students, and coworkers and they contribute more to this nation than this man ever will,” Walz concluded. 

The Walzes have spoken out about their son, Gus Walz, having a nonverbal learning disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and an anxiety disorder, which they described as his "secret power” to People magazine in August. The topic received attention following the Democratic National Convention in August, when Gus Walz became visibly emotional before his father’s speech. 

Kennedy on Wednesday held a news conference following the release of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on autism in which he said the disorder destroys families and children, which he called our “greatest resource.” 

“These are kids who will never pay taxes, they will never hold a job, they will never play baseball, they will never write a poem, they will never go out on a date,” Kennedy said. “Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted, and we have to recognize we are doing this to our children.”

The CDC defines autism spectrum disorder as a “developmental disability caused by differences in the brain” and notes that the abilities of people with the condition “can vary significantly.”

“For example, some people with ASD may have advanced conversation skills whereas others may be nonverbal,” the CDC wrote on its information page about the disorder. “Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others can work and live with little to no support.”

Autism has been a major focus for Kennedy dating back long before he was selected to lead the Health and Human Services Department. He has previously, without evidence, sought to link autism to childhood vaccination, although he has insisted he is not anti-vaccine and recently encouraged people to take one while he was on a trip to Texas, which is dealing with a measles outbreak. 

At a recent Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump, Kennedy said he was embarking on a “massive testing and research effort” to find the cause of autism by September. 

Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida also took to X to criticize the secretary’s recent remarks, noting there is a range as to the abilities of people with the condition. 

“It’s not a virus or a disease — it’s a neurological condition with a wide spectrum,”  Frost wrote. “Many Americans with autism work, pay taxes, and are living happy and healthy lives.”