RFK Jr.’s MAHA Allies Gain Influence Despite Internal Divisions

Internal tensions within Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement emerged into public view this week, exposing competing factions vying for influence in the Trump administration’s health policy. The divisions became apparent after President Trump’s nomination of Dr. Casey Means, a prominent nutrition advocate and Kennedy ally, to serve as U.S. Surgeon General.

While some MAHA supporters celebrated the appointment, others criticized Means as insufficiently committed to the movement’s more controversial positions, particularly regarding vaccines, according to The Washington Post.

Surgeon General Nomination Reveals MAHA Fault Lines

Trump praised Means as having “impeccable MAHA credentials” when announcing her nomination on Wednesday. The Stanford-trained physician co-founded Levels, a health technology company focused on metabolic health, and has built a large following advocating for nutrition-based approaches to chronic disease.

The appointment came after Trump withdrew his previous nominee, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, who had faced criticism from Kennedy’s supporters for her past statements supporting COVID-19 vaccines. The selection of Means was seen as a victory for Kennedy’s growing influence within the administration.

However, within hours of the announcement, several prominent anti-vaccine activists in Kennedy’s orbit took to social media to express their disapproval, describing Means as insufficiently devoted to opposing vaccines and questioning her qualifications for the position.

Competing MAHA Philosophies Emerge

The backlash highlights a fundamental division within the MAHA movement between those primarily focused on food system reform and those who believe the nation’s health problems stem mainly from vaccines. These competing priorities have created tension as Kennedy attempts to implement his health agenda.

“The nutritional agenda is a core part of MAHA. It may not be their core part of MAHA. But there’s no doubt that it’s a central part of the overall mission,” said Robert Malone, a Kennedy supporter who has been critical of mRNA vaccines, as quoted by CBS News.

The food-focused wing of MAHA has celebrated recent policy victories, including Kennedy’s announcement last month that the FDA would explore removing artificial food dyes from the U.S. food supply. Prominent food bloggers and wellness influencers have praised these initiatives while generally avoiding the movement’s more controversial vaccine positions.

Kennedy’s MAHA Commission Faces Scrutiny

Meanwhile, Kennedy’s flagship policy initiative, the MAHA Commission on childhood chronic illness, faces growing scrutiny as its first major deadline approaches. According to STAT News, the group of federal agency leaders and MAHA allies is required to deliver its “initial assessment” to President Trump by May 24, yet has held just one meeting so far.

The commission, established by executive order in February, is charged with examining the effects of medication overuse, certain food ingredients, and chemicals on children’s health. It represents the most direct implementation of Kennedy’s vision into federal policy, focusing particularly on asthma, autoimmune illnesses, and autism.

Critics have questioned whether the commission can meet its ambitious timeline given the limited meetings held thus far. Internal sources indicate the administration is concerned about demonstrating concrete progress on Kennedy’s health initiatives before the midterm election campaign begins in earnest.

Balancing MAGA and MAHA Priorities

Kennedy’s relationship with Trump presents additional complications. While Trump has granted Kennedy significant autonomy at HHS, their movements’ goals do not always align perfectly. MAHA supporters typically favor increased regulation of food and pharmaceutical industries, while MAGA ideology generally opposes expanded government oversight.

This tension has become apparent as Kennedy implements his agenda. According to KFF Health News, Trump has told Kennedy he wants to see “measurable progress in a year to 18 months,” putting significant pressure on the HHS Secretary to deliver quick results despite bureaucratic challenges.

Kennedy’s aggressive workforce reduction at HHS, which aligns with Trump’s goal of shrinking the federal government, has paradoxically complicated his ability to implement the additional regulatory oversight favored by many MAHA supporters.

MAHA Allies in Key Positions

Despite these challenges, Kennedy’s allies have secured significant roles throughout the administration. Calley Means, Casey Means’ brother and a wellness product entrepreneur, joined the White House in March as a special advisor on MAHA initiatives, with a particular focus on nutrition policy.

This family connection has itself become a source of controversy. Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy’s former running mate during his presidential campaign, claimed she was promised that the Means siblings would not work in health agencies if she backed Kennedy for the health secretary role, further highlighting the factional disputes within the movement.

“I don’t know if RFK very clearly lied to me, or what is going on,” Shanahan wrote on social media. “It has been clear in recent conversations that he is reporting to someone regularly who is controlling his decisions (and it isn’t President Trump).”

Food Industry Responding to MAHA Pressure

Despite the internal divisions, Kennedy’s food agenda appears to be gaining traction. Major food companies have begun developing plans to remove artificial colors from their products following meetings with Kennedy in March.

The Consumer Brands Association, a food industry trade group, has submitted policy proposals for phasing out certain food dyes, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post. This suggests that even as Kennedy’s movement navigates internal tensions, it is successfully influencing corporate behavior.

Some state lawmakers have credited Kennedy with driving momentum behind bills banning certain food additives, though food safety advocates note that efforts to reform the U.S. food supply were already underway before Kennedy’s appointment.