President Trump is MAGAfying health. However, his attempt to “make America healthy again” is purely through lies and empty promises
In February 2025, the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission, chaired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), was formed as the Trump administration’s way of addressing the increasing rates of obesity and chronic disease in the US. In May, the commission released the Make Our Children Healthy Again: Assessment, outlining the focus of MAHA and examining what it claims are the five drivers of chronic illness: poor diet, chemical exposure from the environment, lack of physical activity, chronic stress, and overmedicalization.
MAHA is yet another example of Trump making empty promises that he has failed to follow through with. A key aspect in the report is the connection between exposure to harmful synthetic chemicals and developmental issues and health conditions. Despite that, little has been done to decrease American’s exposure to these harmful chemical agents. Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, both RFK Jr. and Trump made clear statements against pesticides, acknowledging many of their supporters’ fears surrounding chemical exposure. Amidst the lead-up to the presidential election, RFK Jr. advocated for the adoption of regulations to restrict the use of certain chemicals already banned from other countries’ agriculture practices. However, when it came time to deliver, instead of an increase in regulations, the only “action” from the current administration has been leniency.
In July, a pesticide provision was added to the Fiscal Year 2026 House Interior Appropriations bill after extensive lobbying from pesticide manufacturers. If passed, this bill would shield pesticide manufacturers from liability, protecting those companies from customer lawsuits backed by outdated safety warnings. This upset many of Trump’s supporters, because it showed the administration’s willingness to fold under the pressure of lobbying corporations.
Similarly, MAHA’s official strategy report released in September no longer mentions specific chemicals, nor actions to restrict pesticide use. Instead, the report has shifted to emphasize poor diet and sedentary lifestyle as the primary cause of rising health issues. While the report did mention that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would work to regulate the pesticide approval process, the EPA has already approved four toxic PFAs, or “forever chemicals,” as pesticide ingredients.
In addition, instead of cracking down on pesticides, Trump has diverted media attention to the usage of acetaminophen during pregnancy, which he claims is directly linked to the surge of autism in recent years; a theory that scientists have not found evidence to prove has any merit.
The Trump Administration’s lack of integrity to follow through on their plans is far from new. Instead, they repeatedly back down from initiatives in favor of corporate lobbying and donors. However, when it comes to the food and drug industry, this practice is not unique to the Trump administration: American health has long been put on the sidelines in favor of monetary gain. Profit is prioritized over the long-term effects harmful products and practices have on the American people. For American health to see meaningful change, the corruption between the government and corporations must be addressed.
