Key facts
- The "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement is internally divided on key principles, particularly vaccine reduction.
- A POLITICO Poll found that while many MAHA supporters favor reducing vaccinations, a significant portion does not or remains neutral.
- Principles related to healthier food and reduced chemical exposure, such as removing artificial dyes and limiting pesticides, show broad bipartisan support.
- Some individuals align with MAHA's core tenets but do not identify with the movement, and many supporters feel Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has limited political influence.
- Despite its growth, the MAHA movement faces challenges in coalescing around policy or political candidates due to its internal divisions.
The "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, which played a role in Donald Trump's 2024 election and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s rise, is internally fractured, according to a new analysis of The POLITICO Poll. Diverging interests within the movement could make it difficult to coalesce around policy or political candidates.
The poll surveyed Americans on four key MAHA pillars: reducing vaccine numbers, cleaning up diets and increasing exercise, reducing exposure to harmful chemicals like pesticides, and limiting pharmaceutical company influence. The results indicate that the MAHA umbrella encompasses individuals with opposing ideologies and political views, even on health-related issues.
Vaccine skepticism emerges as the largest dividing factor within the MAHA movement. While about two-thirds of self-identified MAHA supporters favor reducing vaccinations, 14 percent do not support this, and 20 percent remain neutral. This contrasts with non-MAHA Americans, where support for vaccine reduction is half as prevalent. Despite these divisions, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pursued efforts to reduce vaccine recommendations, though a federal judge has temporarily halted an update to the childhood vaccine schedule.
Conversely, principles concerning healthier food and reduced chemical exposure demonstrate broader, bipartisan support. More than two-thirds of Americans favor increasing physical activity, reducing exposure to chemicals like "forever chemicals," limiting pesticide use, and removing artificial dyes from food. This support largely crossed party lines, unlike the polarization seen around vaccine reduction.
However, not all food- and chemical-related principles have universal backing. For instance, majorities of Trump voters expressed interest in eliminating fluoride from water, while minorities of Harris voters did. Health influencer Hilda Gore noted that progress on food policy, such as eliminating food dyes, is slower than anticipated, likening it to turning a large ship.
The MAHA label itself can be controversial. Approximately one in five Americans support MAHA principles but do not identify with the movement. Furthermore, 8 percent support all four tenets but neither identify with nor support MAHA. Many in the group that supports MAHA but doesn't identify with it tend to trust Republicans more on health issues, though Del Bigtree argues MAHA should be seen as a health movement, not solely a Republican one.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s political reach within the movement appears limited, with about half of his own supporters indicating he has had no influence or even a negative influence on their past or future votes. While MAHA-aligned political organizations have endorsed few candidates, Kennedy has been actively visiting competitive districts. Overall satisfaction with the Trump administration's progress on MAHA goals is low, with less than half of the MAHA contingent pleased, and about 40 percent stating they would not vote for a Republican candidate in the midterms.