U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent State of the Union address notably excluded any mention of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, a key agenda item from his administration’s second term. The speech, lasting over an hour and 48 minutes, covered topics such as immigration, economic policies, and military actions, but health initiatives were relegated to less than five minutes. Specifically, Trump highlighted his prescription drug pricing program, TrumpRx, and proposed measures to lower the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
The MAHA Movement and Its Leadership
The MAHA movement, championed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has pushed for drastic changes in dietary guidance and drug development. These include the removal of ultraprocessed ingredients from food and skepticism towards vaccine efficacy. Under Kennedy’s leadership, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its vaccine schedule earlier this year, reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccinations from 17 to 11.
These moves have sparked controversy, as childhood vaccination rates have already declined globally since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many physicians appear to be ignoring the CDC’s revised schedule, and growing tensions within the MAHA movement itself suggest a potential shift in priorities.
Signs of De-Emphasis Ahead of 2026 Midterms
The omission of MAHA from Trump’s speech, combined with recent leadership changes within HHS, indicates that the administration may be distancing itself from the initiative ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Some MAHA supporters have voiced concerns over Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump’s executive order promoting glyphosate production, a herbicide classified by public health experts as a potential carcinogen.
Remaining Advocacy
Despite the apparent shift, MAHA still has advocates within the administration. Surgeon General pick Casey Means, a prominent MAHA supporter, recently appeared before a Senate confirmation hearing. Means has been critical of the food and drug industries for underestimating the role of diet in disease prevention, a core tenet of the MAHA movement.
The sidelining of MAHA from Trump’s address raises questions about the initiative’s future direction and the administration’s willingness to prioritize it amid growing public and internal pushback.
The absence of MAHA from the State of the Union suggests a strategic recalibration by the Trump administration, possibly aiming to moderate its stance on controversial health policies as it approaches the 2026 elections.
