The Make America Healthy Again movement that helped President Donald Trump win in 2024 says it's falling apart as it feels abandoned and leaderless.
According to a Friday Politico article, leaders of the coalition said they cannot find a candidate willing to carry their agenda into the 2028 race, and they blame the Trump administration for letting the movement's momentum fade.
"I haven't seen anyone that I'm excited about," said MAHA influencer Kelly Ryerson, who believes issues like regenerative farming and cutting pesticides are politically potent. "And it's weird to me that they aren't being more vocal about it because it's so winning, but they're not."
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fought the maker of Roundup in court earlier in his career, and that bought him favor with MAHA because it considered pesticides toxins that need to be reduced or eliminated. However, in February, the Trump White House sided with pesticide giant Bayer, the maker of Roundup, which "disillusioned" top MAHA leaders, according to Politico.
"When it comes to 2028, I don't think the next president is in the race yet," said Vani Hari, a longtime ally of Kennedy who pushes for healthier ingredients in food.
Vice President JD Vance has drawn little enthusiasm from MAHA despite praising the movement at a 2025 summit, according to Politico. However, MAHA leaders, including Ryerson, say that he hasn't shown a lot of interest.
"He's had an opportunity for the last few years to really dig into that, be involved, speak at things, be really supportive," Alex Clark, who hosts a health and wellness podcast for Turning Point USA, told Politico. "I mean, I've basically heard nothing. So that's a huge missed opportunity."
Meanwhile, a recent joke by Secretary of State Marco Rubio about his love for Pop-Tarts didn't go over well with MAHA, which considers itself at war with processed foods.
"The torch was burning so fierce in 2024, and now it's like flickering," Clark said. "I wouldn't say it's snuffed out totally yet, but jeez Louise, we're barely hanging on."
