Donald Trump often casts himself as a mere observer – a commentator on American public life rather than its most powerful practitioner and influencer. Whether on Truth Social, in an interview or at a doorstep encounter, he is never shy about venturing his “take” on sport, television, celebrities, you name it. He loves to gossip about things he has “heard”.

Sometimes, this is charming. Often it is funny. When the stakes are low, it’s generally harmless. Not so when the president of the United States volunteers, at great length, his ill-informed and ill-conceived “feelpinions” about medicine – especially vaccines and autism.

US President Donald Trump gives his views on autism as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr watches.Credit: AP

Monday’s news conference made for genuine “head in your hands” watching. It was not enough for Trump to surround himself with vaccine sceptics like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr or medical contrarians such as Food and Drug Administration commissioner Marty Makary, and have them announce a........

© Brisbane Times