Politics

Kennedy claims Arabs do not produce science, drawing widespread criticism

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made the remarks at a Michigan campaign event; critics called them racist and inaccurate.

Updated Oct 27, 2026 · 22:21 UTC2 reports

The short version

Kennedy said at a Michigan campaign event that Arabs do not produce science or win major prizes.[Al Jazeera]
The remarks, made while backing Republican Mike Rogers in a US election contest, drew condemnation from critics.[Al Jazeera]
Kennedy reportedly attributed the claimed lack of Arab contributions to the Muslim Brotherhood, and HHS had not immediately responded to a request for comment.[Associated Press]

Kennedy claimed that Arabs have not made contributions to math, science or literature.[Al Jazeera]
The remarks were made at a US election campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, while supporting Republican nominee Mike Rogers.[Al Jazeera]
Kennedy said there are 500 million Arabs who do not produce science, win the Nobel, Fields or Wolf prizes, or produce literature.[Al Jazeera]
Critics described the comments as racist, Islamophobic and factually inaccurate.[Al Jazeera]
Kennedy argued that the Muslim Brotherhood's influence explains why Arabs have not contributed to science or the humanities.[Associated Press]
An HHS representative did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.[Associated Press]

HHS had not responded at publication, so the department's position on the remarks is not yet known.[Associated Press]
The Muslim Brotherhood explanation is Kennedy's argument as reported, not an established finding.[Associated Press]
Descriptions of the remarks as racist and Islamophobic are critics' characterizations, not findings.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.