Cracks Appear in MAHA-MAGA Alliance as RFK Jr. Builds His Team of Health ‘Renegades’
The grand ballroom of Washington’s Willard InterContinental Hotel, usually a hub for elite industry conferences, recently played host to an unusual gathering. Instead of typical political insiders, the crowd was made up of food influencers, organic farmers, and outspoken anti-vaccine advocates — the new faces behind the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.
At the official launch of the MAHA Institute, these outsiders came together to discuss medical freedom, vaccine exemptions, school lunches, and the growing crisis of chronic illness. Farmers emphasized the importance of local food while warning about chemtrails, and college students pitched startups focused on reconnecting with nature — or as they called it, “touching grass.”
A Surprising Partnership: MAHA Meets MAGA
Calley Means, a longtime ally of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and now an adviser to the White House, acknowledged the odd mix of people and ideas brought together by MAHA and former President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.
“Four to eight years ago, many people in this room would have thought it crazy to vote for Trump,” Means said. “But in 2024, many saw their vote for him as the most important of their lives.”
With Trump’s return came Kennedy’s appointment as HHS Secretary. Nearly three months into the job, Kennedy has assembled a leadership team filled with Covid-19 skeptics and self-described “renegades.” Alongside Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), they’ve launched a sweeping overhaul of the $3 trillion agency — cutting research budgets and laying off some of the government’s top health experts.
Rising Tensions Within the Alliance
But this shakeup has exposed fault lines between traditional MAGA loyalists and Kennedy’s MAHA followers. Several current and former officials, speaking anonymously, say friction is growing.
The White House was reportedly unhappy with how Kennedy’s team handled a recent measles outbreak in Texas and other states. Meanwhile, Kennedy’s principal deputy chief of staff, Stefanie Spear, has tightened control over communications, personally reviewing all public statements and reports — a move that has frustrated many within HHS.
Kennedy himself walks a delicate line between appeasing vaccine critics and working with public health officials, leaving both camps dissatisfied.
■ Related News
Even within the MAHA movement, cracks are showing. The appointment of Dr. Casey Means, Calley Means’ sister, as Surgeon General sparked backlash from some MAHA supporters who felt she hasn’t been vocal enough against Covid-19 vaccines. This tension spilled into public view as high-profile advocates voiced concerns on social media.
Battling the Medical Establishment
Kennedy and many MAHA supporters share a deep distrust of the mainstream medical community, which they say has long dismissed their ideas. Though MAHA loyalists number only about 75 within an agency of 60,000 employees, they now hold the reins of power.
“Anyone with real control here is a MAHA person,” said a former official familiar with HHS.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai affirmed that MAHA is central to Trump’s MAGA vision. “Secretary Kennedy is trusted and empowered by President Trump to tackle America’s chronic disease epidemic,” Desai said.
The ‘Renegades’ Leading the Charge
Kennedy describes his leadership team as uniquely unified and close-knit. “We’re friends, aligned by shared values,” he told Fox News. “We’re the canceled leadership — renegades fighting for truth no matter the cost.”
His key allies include Dr. Marty Makary (FDA Commissioner), Dr. Jay Bhattacharya (NIH Director), and Dr. Mehmet Oz (CMS Administrator) — all outspoken critics of government Covid-19 policies. Together, they’re tasked with reorganizing major health agencies to fit the MAHA vision, despite budget cuts from DOGE.
Makary is pushing initiatives to remove certain food dyes and reevaluate vaccine reviews. Bhattacharya is leading autism research while restructuring the NIH. Oz champions increased use of artificial intelligence in healthcare and new Medicaid policies.
Friction Over Surgeon General Appointment
Despite public camaraderie, tensions surfaced with Trump’s choice of Casey Means as Surgeon General. Some MAHA advocates argue she hasn’t pushed hard enough against Covid vaccines.
Dr. Mary Talley Bowden criticized Means for not calling to remove Covid shots from the market, while Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy’s former running mate, suggested Kennedy may be under outside influence limiting his decisions.
After initial backlash, anti-vaccine advocate Steve Kirsch publicly reversed his criticism of Means following a conversation with Kennedy.
Internal Struggles at HHS
Beyond leadership disputes, many federal employees are leaving HHS, citing frustration with new management, especially with Spear’s tight control over communications. Staff must now clear all external messaging through her, slowing responses during crises like the measles outbreak that has affected over 1,000 cases in 30 states.
This communication bottleneck frustrated White House officials trying to coordinate responses.
Departures of key legal staff have raised concerns about HHS’s ability to handle upcoming disputes with institutions like Harvard over frozen research grants.
One insider described the situation as “an utter disaster.”
Summary:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reshaping the Health and Human Services agency with a team of Covid skeptics and anti-establishment “renegades” aligned with the Make America Healthy Again movement. While they’ve gained significant power under the Trump administration, tensions are rising within their ranks and with traditional MAGA allies. Internal struggles, leadership conflicts, and mass staff departures challenge their ambitious agenda to overhaul America’s health system.
Source: CNN – Cracks emerge in MAHA-MAGA alliance as RFK Jr. builds out his team of health ‘renegades’
