RFK Jr. says 500 million Arabs 'don't produce science' at a Rogers campaign event; CAIR calls for his firing
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a Grand Rapids campaign event for Mike Rogers that 500 million Arabs 'don't produce science' or win major prizes. CAIR called for his firing, and Democrats and health care advocates condemned the remarks.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Kennedy spoke at the event with Senate candidate Mike Rogers and gubernatorial candidate Rep. John James. According to the Associated Press, he said that Rogers had been talking about the Muslim Brotherhood and that it was something he could talk about, cited the literary tradition of Islamic civilization in the 13th century, and said that tradition had been destroyed by the Muslim Brotherhood. He then said the world's 500 million Arabs do not produce science or literature and do not win the Nobel Prize, the Fields Prize or the Wolf Prize. The AP lists Arab and Arab-descended winners of each, including chemist Ahmed Zewail, novelist Naguib Mahfouz, chemist Omar M. Yaghi, who also won the Wolf Prize, and mathematician Michael Atiyah. The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters and the AP.
Read the full background
Rogers, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, and his allies have sought to link his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed, who is Muslim, has disavowed the group and denied any connection to it. Michigan has the highest share of residents reporting Arab ancestry of any state, according to Census Bureau survey data cited by Newsweek. Earlier the same day, Kennedy visited Corewell Health in Grand Rapids on official business to promote a hospital nutrition pledge.
People in this case
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Directly involved
Mike RogersDirectly involved
Chris MurphyCommented
Mehdi HasanCommented
Timeline
3 timeline entries on this page. Dates: October 26, 2026 to October 27, 2026
October 2026
Kennedy makes remarks about Arabs at a Grand Rapids campaign event
Incident
At a Republican campaign event in Grand Rapids with Senate candidate Mike Rogers and Rep. John James, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the world's 500 million Arabs do not produce science or literature and do not win the Nobel, Fields or Wolf prizes, and blames the Muslim Brotherhood.
[01]C-SPAN
C-SPAN's video of the October 26, 2026 Republican campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared with U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers and gubernatorial candidate Rep. John James.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaigns with Senate candidate Mike Rogers (R-MI) in Grand Rapids · C-SPANFull event video, 35 minutes 30 seconds[02]The Bulwark
A post by The Bulwark's clips account with a 38-second excerpt of Kennedy speaking at the Grand Rapids campaign event, captioned with his remarks about '500 million Arabs'.
Bulwark Clips post with video of Kennedy's remarks about Arabs in Grand Rapids · The BulwarkFull post and 38-second video, October 26, 2026[03]Newsweek
Newsweek report on Kennedy's remarks at the Grand Rapids event, including his statements that he could talk about the Muslim Brotherhood and that doing so 'is not Islamophobia'.
RFK Jr. Says 500M Arabs 'Don't Produce Science' at Michigan Rally · NewsweekFull articleCAIR calls for Kennedy's firing
Reaction
The Council on American-Islamic Relations calls for Kennedy to be removed from his Cabinet post over the Grand Rapids remarks.
[04]Council on American-Islamic Relations
Press release from the Council on American-Islamic Relations calling for Kennedy to be removed from his Cabinet post over his Grand Rapids remarks, and listing Arab Nobel Prize winners.
CAIR Calls for Immediate Firing of RFK Jr. Over 'Vile, Bigoted' Anti-Arab Rant · Council on American-Islamic RelationsFull press release[05]Common Dreams
Common Dreams report collecting reactions to Kennedy's Grand Rapids remarks, including statements from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Protect Our Care and posts by Sen. Chris Murphy, Mehdi Hasan and Justin Baragona.
RFK Jr. Condemned Over Baseless and 'Nakedly Racist' Anti-Arab Rant at Rogers Event in Michigan · Common DreamsFull articleAP fact check lists Arab winners of the prizes Kennedy named
An Associated Press fact check lists Arab and Arab-descended winners of the Nobel Prize, the Fields Medal and the Wolf Prize, and reports that HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
[06]Associated Press
Associated Press fact check, as published by WFTV, quoting Kennedy's remarks in Grand Rapids and listing Arab and Arab-descended winners of the Nobel Prize, the Fields Medal and the Wolf Prize. It also quotes Protect Our Care and Peter Hotez.
FACT FOCUS: Kennedy's claim that Arabs 'don't produce science' meets a Nobel Prize reality check · Associated PressFull article
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
The world's 500 million Arabs do not produce science or literature and do not win the Nobel Prize, the Fields Prize or the Wolf Prize.
What is disputed
The Associated Press lists Arab and Arab-descended winners of each prize Kennedy named, including chemist Ahmed Zewail (Nobel Prize, 1999), novelist Naguib Mahfouz (Nobel Prize in Literature, 1988), chemist Omar M. Yaghi (Nobel Prize, 2025, and Wolf Prize, 2018) and mathematician Michael Atiyah, of Lebanese descent (Fields Medal, 1966). Kennedy attributed what he described to the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Sources (4)
- Bulwark Clips post with video of Kennedy's remarks about Arabs in Grand Rapids · The BulwarkFull post and 38-second video, October 26, 2026
- FACT FOCUS: Kennedy's claim that Arabs 'don't produce science' meets a Nobel Prize reality check · Associated PressFull article
- RFK Jr. Says 500M Arabs 'Don't Produce Science' at Michigan Rally · NewsweekFull article
- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaigns with Senate candidate Mike Rogers (R-MI) in Grand Rapids · C-SPANFull event video, 35 minutes 30 seconds
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
4 responses. Newest first.
Council on American-Islamic RelationsCouncil on American-Islamic Relations, in a press releaseBefore this statement
CAIR calls for Kennedy to be removed from his Cabinet post. Its statement calls his remarks 'a textbook display of unvarnished racism and bigotry' and says that a sitting Cabinet official who dehumanizes half a billion people from a public stage is 'utterly disqualifying for public office'.
"His sweeping erasure of Arab contributions to humanity is not only maliciously false, but it also fans the flames of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hate at a time when communities are already vulnerable to bigoted attacks from other public officials nationwide. Anyone who holds such blatant contempt for an entire ethnicity has no business leading a federal agency meant to serve all Americans."
CondemnedCase context: RFK Jr. says 500 million Arabs 'don't produce science' at a Rogers campaign event; CAIR calls for his firing
Full statement and sources
The Council on American-Islamic Relations calls Kennedy's Grand Rapids remarks a false erasure of Arab contributions that fans anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hate, and says he has no business leading a federal agency.
After the statement
The release then names Arab Nobel Prize winners, among them Ahmed Zewail, who won the chemistry prize in 1999, and Omar M. Yaghi, who shared it in 2025.
CAIR Calls for Immediate Firing of RFK Jr. Over 'Vile, Bigoted' Anti-Arab Rant · Council on American-Islamic RelationsFull press releaseRFK Jr. Condemned Over Baseless and 'Nakedly Racist' Anti-Arab Rant at Rogers Event in Michigan · Common DreamsFull articleWhy this label?
The case concerns Kennedy's October 26 remarks that the world's 500 million Arabs do not produce science or literature or win major prizes. CAIR calls the remarks maliciously false and says anyone with such contempt for an entire ethnicity should not lead a federal agency, which condemns them.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Chris MurphyU.S. senator (D-Conn.), in a post on XBefore this statement
Reuters reports that Murphy responded to the health secretary's comments at the Michigan campaign event.
"I really think everyone needs to pay attention to this cordinated campaign to delegimatize Muslim Americans - not just as citizens but as humans. These increasingly hysterical attacks are a prelude to Republicans bringing us to a very, very dark place after the election."
CondemnedCase context: RFK Jr. says 500 million Arabs 'don't produce science' at a Rogers campaign event; CAIR calls for his firing
Full statement and sources
Sen. Chris Murphy, responding to Kennedy's comments, says there is a coordinated campaign to delegitimize Muslim Americans and warns that such attacks are a prelude to a very dark place after the election.
After the statement
Common Dreams reports that Murphy urged attention to what Kennedy's comments were part of, beyond debunking his claim about Arabs.
Chris Murphy post on a 'coordinated campaign to delegitimize Muslim Americans' · Chris MurphyFull post, October 27, 2026US health chief RFK Jr faces widespread rebuke over his anti-Arab remarks · ReutersFull articleRFK Jr. Condemned Over Baseless and 'Nakedly Racist' Anti-Arab Rant at Rogers Event in Michigan · Common DreamsFull articleWhy this label?
The case concerns Kennedy's October 26 remarks about Arabs. Responding to those comments, Murphy describes a campaign to delegitimize Muslim Americans 'not just as citizens but as humans', which condemns the remarks.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Mehdi HasanFounder and editor-in-chief of Zeteo, in a post on XBefore this statement
Common Dreams reports the post among reactions to Kennedy's remarks in Grand Rapids, and says Hasan suggested that Democrats and liberal commentators share the blame for a climate in which a top U.S. official felt comfortable degrading people of Arab descent.
"Everyday, a prominent Republican - the president, a cabinet official, a primetime Fox host, the Michigan Senate candidate - says something insanely racist about Muslims or Arabs."
CondemnedCase context: RFK Jr. says 500 million Arabs 'don't produce science' at a Rogers campaign event; CAIR calls for his firing
Full statement and sources
Mehdi Hasan says prominent Republicans, including a Cabinet official, say something insanely racist about Muslims or Arabs every day, and faults prominent Democrats and liberals for staying quiet. Common Dreams reports the post among reactions to Kennedy's remarks.
After the statement
He continues that his timeline is full of prominent Democrats and liberals angry about an ad attacking Israel, and that he hears nothing from them on what he calls out-of-control Islamophobia from the GOP.
Mehdi Hasan post on Republican remarks about Muslims and Arabs · Mehdi HasanFull post, October 26, 2026 (Eastern time)RFK Jr. Condemned Over Baseless and 'Nakedly Racist' Anti-Arab Rant at Rogers Event in Michigan · Common DreamsFull articleWhy this label?
The case concerns Kennedy's October 26 remarks about Arabs. Hasan names a Cabinet official among Republicans who say 'something insanely racist about Muslims or Arabs', and Common Dreams reports the post as a reaction to Kennedy's remarks, so the post condemns them.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Protect Our CareProtect Our Care, in a statement by its president, Brad Woodhouse Before this statement
The group's statement, issued the evening of the Grand Rapids event, says Kennedy went on 'an ugly, wildly racist tirade' at a campaign event for Mike Rogers and Rep. John James.
"Fear and racism are the crutch of pathetic political hacks with absolutely nothing to offer or progress to point to. RFK Jr has laid bare how small and ignorant he really is."
CondemnedCase context: RFK Jr. says 500 million Arabs 'don't produce science' at a Rogers campaign event; CAIR calls for his firing
Full statement and sources
Protect Our Care president Brad Woodhouse says Kennedy's remarks smear an entire people with disprovable lies, and faults Mike Rogers and John James for not condemning them.
After the statement
Woodhouse adds that it is 'an indictment of both Mike Rogers and John James' that they have not condemned the remarks.
RFK Jr Goes Full Racist at Michigan Campaign Stop · Protect Our CareFull statementWhy this label?
The case concerns Kennedy's October 26 remarks about Arabs. Woodhouse describes them as 'smearing an entire people with gross and instantly disprovable lies', which condemns them.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(10)
Original video
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaigns with Senate candidate Mike Rogers (R-MI) in Grand Rapids
Relevant passage: Full event video, 35 minutes 30 seconds
About this source
C-SPAN's video of the October 26, 2026 Republican campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared with U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers and gubernatorial candidate Rep. John James.
- Author
- C-SPAN
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Mehdi Hasan post on Republican remarks about Muslims and Arabs
About this source
Mehdi Hasan's post on X quoting the Bulwark Clips video of Kennedy's Grand Rapids remarks.
- Author
- Mehdi Hasan
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Chris Murphy post on a 'coordinated campaign to delegitimize Muslim Americans'
About this source
Sen. Chris Murphy's post on X quoting the Bulwark Clips video of Kennedy's Grand Rapids remarks.
- Author
- Chris Murphy
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
RFK Jr Goes Full Racist at Michigan Campaign Stop
Relevant passage: Full statement
About this source
Protect Our Care statement, issued the evening of October 26, 2026 (Eastern time), quoting its president, Brad Woodhouse, on Kennedy's remarks at the Grand Rapids campaign event.
- Author
- Protect Our Care
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
RFK Jr. Condemned Over Baseless and 'Nakedly Racist' Anti-Arab Rant at Rogers Event in Michigan
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Common Dreams report collecting reactions to Kennedy's Grand Rapids remarks, including statements from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Protect Our Care and posts by Sen. Chris Murphy, Mehdi Hasan and Justin Baragona.
- Author
- Julia Conley
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
CAIR Calls for Immediate Firing of RFK Jr. Over 'Vile, Bigoted' Anti-Arab Rant
Relevant passage: Full press release
About this source
Press release from the Council on American-Islamic Relations calling for Kennedy to be removed from his Cabinet post over his Grand Rapids remarks, and listing Arab Nobel Prize winners.
- Author
- Council on American-Islamic Relations
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
RFK Jr. Says 500M Arabs 'Don't Produce Science' at Michigan Rally
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Newsweek report on Kennedy's remarks at the Grand Rapids event, including his statements that he could talk about the Muslim Brotherhood and that doing so 'is not Islamophobia'.
- Author
- Steven Frank
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
US health chief RFK Jr faces widespread rebuke over his anti-Arab remarks
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Reuters report, as published by WSAU, on criticism of Kennedy's remarks from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Protect Our Care and Sen. Chris Murphy. It says the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
- Author
- Kanishka Singh
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
FACT FOCUS: Kennedy's claim that Arabs 'don't produce science' meets a Nobel Prize reality check
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Associated Press fact check, as published by WFTV, quoting Kennedy's remarks in Grand Rapids and listing Arab and Arab-descended winners of the Nobel Prize, the Fields Medal and the Wolf Prize. It also quotes Protect Our Care and Peter Hotez.
- Author
- Fatima Hussein
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Bulwark Clips post with video of Kennedy's remarks about Arabs in Grand Rapids
About this source
A post by The Bulwark's clips account with a 38-second excerpt of Kennedy speaking at the Grand Rapids campaign event, captioned with his remarks about '500 million Arabs'.
- Author
- Bulwark Clips
- Published
- Accessed
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- Publisher
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- Title
- RFK Jr. says 500 million Arabs 'don't produce science' at a Rogers campaign event; CAIR calls for his firing
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
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The Dispute Index. "RFK Jr. says 500 million Arabs 'don't produce science' at a Rogers campaign event; CAIR calls for his firing". First published: 2026-10-30. Last updated: 2026-10-30. https://disputeindex.com/cases/rfk-jr-arabs-dont-produce-science-grand-rapids