Healthy Debates: RFK Jr. 's MAHA Movement Faces Growing Pains

A Movement Divided

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) initiative has been making headlines, but not without controversy. While he recently received praise from the vice president and top tech executives at a high-profile event in Washington, some supporters and former employees are raising concerns.

Criticisms and Defenses

• Gray Delany, a former Health and Human Services official, claimed, "MAHA is not MAHA anymore."
• Kennedy had to defend his colleagues on social media amid growing criticism.
• Some environmental advocates and vaccine skeptics feel MAHA isn't addressing their priorities.
• Concerns over collaborations with big corporations have also been voiced.

Kennedy's Actions and Supporters' Demands

• Kennedy has curtailed vaccines, pulled funding for their development, and replaced members of a federal vaccine advisory committee.
• He has also spread false information about vaccines, though some supporters say it's not enough.
• They want punishments for companies that profited from vaccine and mask requirements during the pandemic.

Corporate Ties and Balancing the Message

• At a recent MAHA event, Kennedy and federal health officials appeared alongside biotech companies and AI firms, raising concerns among longtime supporters.
• Tony Lyons, president of MAHA Action, defended the movement's openness to ideas and perspectives.
• Kennedy and his team recently praised a deal with drugmakers to reduce the prices of weight-loss drugs, despite his previous skepticism.
• Dr. Mehmet Oz defended the administration's approach, saying they are using Trump's negotiation playbook.

A Movement Bigger Than Policy

Despite the internal struggles, MAHA's popularity is soaring, with about two-thirds of Americans supporting it. The movement is a testament to the power of identity and the deep-held beliefs of its supporters.