Calley Means, former senior adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., stated on "Face the Nation" that he intended for Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to leave the White House, citing allegations that she and her inner circle catered to special interests contrary to President Trump’s campaign promises. The interview followed Wiles’ resignation and the Republican Party’s loss in the 2026 midterms. Means argued that Wiles, along with aides Richard Walters, Walker Barrett, and James Blair, prioritized lobbying firms and industry donors over the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) agenda.
What the Right Is Saying
Susie Wiles, in a statement to CBS News, asserted that President Trump "did more for MAHA than any president before or likely any president in the future," rejecting the implication that her tenure hindered the agenda. Tony Fabrizio, the pollster Means accused of having conflicts of interest, released a statement calling Means’ allegations "ridiculous" and "demonstrably false," noting that he had encouraged Republican members of Congress to campaign on Most Favored Nation drug pricing, a policy that would negatively impact pharmaceutical revenues. Wiles also stated she did not have advance knowledge of James Blair’s travel to Republika Srpska, while Blair confirmed he did not inform her beforehand. A spokesperson for Continental Strategies, the lobbying firm employing Wiles’ daughter Katie, described Means’ claims as "inaccurate and baseless," denying that the firm lobbied for glyphosate, Monsanto, or similar policies.
What the Left Is Saying
While Means is a Trump administration figure, his critique of corporate capture aligns with progressive arguments regarding the influence of the pharmaceutical and food industries on public health policy. Means stated that the MAHA movement, at its core, addresses environmental causes of pediatric cancer and the prevalence of ultra-processed foods in American diets. He argued that advisors like Tony Fabrizio, whose polling firm advised the White House, were paid by companies such as Pepsi and Pfizer, potentially compromising policy decisions on issues like defining ultra-processed foods. Means suggested that Democrats and Republicans could find common ground on structural health care reforms, noting that Secretary Kennedy’s goals often mirror those of progressive senators like Elizabeth Warren and Abdul El-Sayed regarding drug pricing and food safety.
What the Numbers Show
Public records under the Lobbying Disclosure Act indicate that Continental Strategies reported $27.3 million in revenue in 2025, a significant increase from $1.8 million in 2024. According to LegiStorm, which tracks federal lobbying activity, Ballard Partners, where Susie Wiles previously worked, generated nearly $82 million in lobbying revenue in the previous year, described as the highest single-year total by any firm in their data. Means cited a Harvard Harris poll indicating that Secretary Kennedy is the most popular public official in America. Additionally, Means noted that the United States accounts for 4% of the world’s population but uses 20% of the world’s herbicides and pesticides, referencing a recent EPA review of glyphosate that was discarded due to allegations of ghostwritten research and bribery involving Bayer and EPA officials.
The Bottom Line
The departure of Susie Wiles and the elevation of Stephen Miller mark a potential shift in the Trump administration’s second term, with Miller positioned as a key ally to Secretary Kennedy in advancing MAHA policies. Means expressed optimism that this new configuration could facilitate bipartisan cooperation on structural reforms in health care, including drug pricing and food labeling, by bypassing what he described as a "corrupt" previous internal process. However, the administration faces continued scrutiny over lobbying ties and conflicts of interest, with congressional Democrats preparing to investigate these claims in the new session. The coming two years are framed by Means as critical for addressing institutional corruption and fulfilling campaign promises, with the administration seeking to leverage popular support for health-focused initiatives to drive legislative action.