NEW YORK (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spent a recent Wednesday showered in praise from the vice president and health technology CEOs at a glitzy 'Make America Healthy Again' event in Washington, designed to celebrate the health secretary’s successes and the movement he has built.
Yet online, a different narrative of his tenure was playing out, as a small but vocal group of Kennedy’s supporters and former employees assailed top Trump administration advisers, claiming they were sabotaging him and redirecting MAHA away from its original goals. MAHA is not MAHA anymore,” Gray Delany, a former Department of Health and Human Services official ousted in August, said in a podcast interview that day.
The criticisms grew loud enough for the health secretary to take to social media to defend his colleagues, exposing the cracks within his coalition as it amasses power and broadens its scope.
Some environmental advocates and vaccine skeptics who helped propel Kennedy into politics have grown impatient, viewing insufficient action on their priorities and worrying that the Health Department is willing to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies and tech firms whose motives they distrust.
The fissures pose a threat to the cohesion of a movement that has given President Donald Trump an important ally and Republicans access to a new group of voters. Meanwhile, MAHA continues to enjoy soaring popularity, with about two-thirds of Americans supporting its initiatives, according to a recent Ipsos poll.
Kennedy’s team maintains that their mission is stronger than ever. “Secretary Kennedy is leading a broad coalition to make Americans healthier, guided by transparency, accountability and measurable results,” said HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon.
However, some voices within the health freedom movement claim Kennedy's efforts are inadequate, demanding stricter actions against companies that profited during the pandemic and further restrictions on mRNA-based vaccines. The internal strife highlights a significant division as Kennedy also faces challenges balancing broader inclusivity within the MAHA movement.
Kennedy defended his colleagues in a bid to unify the movement, calling for a focus on their achievements instead of internal divisions. As he navigates these threats, the future direction of the MAHA initiative remains uncertain amidst rising tensions and competing interests.
