Health Secretary Kennedy Used $9,000-an-Hour Military Jet for Iowa Campaign Trip

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. used a $9,000-an-hour military jet to fly to Iowa for appearances with Republican candidates running in tight races ahead of the midterm elections — as the White House hopes he can help win over voters who don’t normally favor the GOP, according to a report.

Kennedy's August 17 trip on a Gulfstream jet operated by the Air Force was among an unspecified number of trips he's made on military aircraft since joining President Donald Trump's cabinet in February 2025, The Washington Post reported Thursday night, citing unidentified sources.

The flight to Des Moines came three days after TV station KGAN reported that Kennedy would visit the Hawkeye State to campaign for GOP candidates.

“He's coming here soon to help us out,” Republican gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn said, according to WGAN.

White House officials reportedly believe Kennedy — a high-profile vaccine critic and “real food” proponent who comes from a storied family of Democrats — can draw votes from people who agree with his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda but don’t usually support Republicans.

Both the White House and lawyers for the Department of Health and Services signed off on Kennedy's use of military aircraft, the Post said, citing sources who also said there were protocols governing such trips.

Spokespersons for the White House, HHS and the Pentagon didn't immediately return inquiries Friday from The Independent, and the Post said the White House and HHS declined to comment on Kennedy's use of military aircraft.

On August 19, the Iowa state GOP posted a photo on social media that shows Kennedy and Lahn posing with fishing rods next to a large body of water.

Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and HHS also released statements on August 17 about Kennedy joining her at the Newtown YMCA in Iowa to promote youth fitness and the return of the presidential fitness test.

Kennedy's trip to Iowa also included an announcement about efforts to help parents overcome addiction and a visit to a community health center, the Post reported.

The Cook Political Report rates Lahn's race for the open governor’s seat as leaning in favor of Democrat Josh Turek. It rates Miller-Meeks' reelection bid against Democrat Christina Bohannan as a toss-up.

The Air Force charges $9,000 an hour for use of the Gulfstream jet, and Kennedy has been accompanied by bodyguards and longtime aide Stephanie Spear when he's flown on military aircraft, according to the Post.

A ticket for a commercial flight between Washington and Des Moines booked through a government cost-saving program costs about $250, according to the Post, with the Expedia travel website saying a direct flight usually takes about three hours.

Kennedy's use of military aircraft has been questioned at least once by top HHS official Chris Klomp, whom Trump has nominated to be deputy secretary, with Kennedy agreeing not to use the government plane, the Post said.

During Trump's first term, he forced out Health Secretary Tom Price for reportedly spending at least $400,000 in taxpayer funds on chartered jets during the administration's first nine months.

“I certainly don't like the optics,” Trump said shortly before Price resigned. “I'm not happy, I can tell you that. I'm not happy.”

But during his second term, the president has remained silent in response to Democratic criticism of FBI Director Kash Patel's repeated use of government jets for personal travel, including to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.