'Read the document!' CNN's Jake Tapper unloads on RFK Jr. over 'complete falsehoods'

CNN's Jake Tapper on Thursday afternoon offered a strong rebuttal to the health secretary's justification for firing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director.

Earlier in the day, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed the CDC was an agency that had been "very troubled for a very long time" before the Trump administration began to reform it. One aspect the Trump administration is seeking to change is the CDC's vaccine panel, which recommends vaccines for children. Kennedy also claimed on Thursday that the CDC lists abortion as one of the top 10 medical innovations of all time.

Tapper reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services about the claim after discovering that Kennedy's claim was false. The department referred to the section on "contraception and family planning," and sent him a document that talked about the need to reduce unwanted pregnancies.

"It did not cite abortions as one of the top 10 health achievements, and it is not saying that abortion is part of family planning," Tapper said.

"Read the document, Secretary Kennedy!" he exclaimed.

On Wednesday, HHS posted on X that Director Susan Monarez is no longer with the agency. Monarez and her lawyers have challenged the move and said she will not resign.

Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, justified Monarez's firing on Thursday by arguing that Trump has the authority to remove anyone who will not implement his agenda.

Tapper also noted that Kennedy may be saying things that aren't true to justify his "extreme positions and actions" at the health department.

"This is just another example of Kennedy making rash decisions that could impact your health and basing them on complete and utter falsehoods, Tapper said.

Watch the entire clip below or by clicking here.