Former Trump Adviser Alleges Fundraising Drove Health Policy

Former Trump administration adviser Calley Means has accused senior officials of putting midterm fundraising and industry interests ahead of Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) policies, allegations the White House and a named political adviser have disputed. The reports establish a public dispute, but do not verify that fundraising or lobbying shaped policy decisions.

Means, a former adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., made the accusations in interviews and a podcast appearance. He said officials resisted proposals involving food, vaping and other health issues while citing the need for campaign money. In one account, he recalled former chief of staff Susie Wiles telling him, “I need the money from the sugar people to win the midterms.” That account has not been independently substantiated.

Means also accused Wiles and her deputy, James Blair, of pressing health officials to find a way to approve fruit-flavored e-cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration authorized four Glas nicotine-delivery products for marketing on May 5, 2026, two menthol and two non-menthol. Marketing authorization is not a finding that a product is safe. Blair denied promoting flavored...