Cassidy says Trump needs to be “radically honest” on vaccines amid measles outbreak

Updated on: September 20, 2026 / 3:37 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana on Sunday urged the president to be "radically honest" when he's speaking about vaccines, as the U.S. this year has recorded the most measles cases in more than three decades.

"I would just ask the president to be aware that people are listening to him — if he discourages immunization, there'll be fewer people immunized, and if we're speaking of measles, there'll be more people sick in the hospital or even die," Cassidy said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

The Trump administration has been encouraging parents to vaccinate their children against measles in recent months, as cases have climbed. But Mr. Trump has cast doubt on the vaccine and its schedule, including through an executive order last month suggesting that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, known as MMR, should be given as three separate shots. He also claimed without evidence that the MMR vaccine, if not separated, could be "lethal."

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, the president said he is going to "demand" that drug companies split up kids' vaccines into five doses…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/