The "MAHA moms" who backed President Donald Trump in 2024 are growing increasingly frustrated with his administration, and with the midterm elections just weeks away, some supporters warn the movement's alliance with the White House may be close to breaking.

The latest sign of trouble came this week, when Calley Means, a senior adviser to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and one of the Make America Healthy Again movement's best-known figures, announced he was leaving the White House.

A Key MAHA Figure Walks Away

Means did not give a reason for leaving. "I am resigning from the White House with tremendous respect for President Trump and Bobby Kennedy," he wrote on X.

But according to The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, Means was frustrated by White House delays on MAHA priorities and believed food companies and special interests had too much influence over policy, The Western Journal reported. The delayed initiatives included a federal definition of ultraprocessed foods and school meal changes to cut added sugar.

The White House praised his work. Spokeswoman Allison Schuster said the administration is "grateful for Calley Means' time" and that he "has done a fantastic job for the MAHA movement."

The Fight Over Pesticides

Much of the tension centers on pesticides, especially glyphosate, the main ingredient in the weedkiller Roundup. In February, Trump signed an executive order to boost domestic glyphosate production, citing national security. Kennedy backed the order, a move that left many longtime supporters stunned, PBS NewsHour reported.

The administration also urged the Supreme Court to side with Bayer, Roundup's maker, as MAHA moms rallied outside the court in April. In June, the justices blocked thousands of Roundup lawsuits in a 7-2 decision.

Alex Clark, a prominent MAHA influencer and podcast host, has said her listeners, many of them MAHA moms, felt betrayed. Anti-pesticide activist Kelly Ryerson, known as "The Glyphosate Girl," warned in August that "that clock is really ticking," Raw Story reported, citing The Washington Post.

Some activists have also objected to Trump's nomination of aide Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration, citing her role in the glyphosate order.

MAHA Has Shown It Will Buck Trump

Unlike many in Trump's base, MAHA voters have shown they are willing to break with the president. In June, MAHA-backed businessman Zach Lahn defeated Trump-endorsed Rep. Randy Feenstra in Iowa's Republican primary for governor.

The movement is not small. A Politico poll found that about a third of Americans identify as MAHA supporters, and half of them see limiting pesticide use as a core issue, according to PBS.

Clark has said MAHA voters "are movable" and could be decisive in close races. Some MAHA supporters have warned that frustrated moms may simply stay home in November.

Polling also suggests trouble for Kennedy. Only 1 in 4 people say they trust health information from the HHS secretary, down from about one-third when he took office, according to an Axios-Ipsos poll cited by the Washington Examiner.

What the White House Says

White House officials have pushed back on the criticism, defending their health record and the people leading it. Officials have said some attacks on their nominees reflect a misunderstanding of their roles.

Means himself struck a hopeful tone on his way out, pointing to wins such as removing food dyes and taking soda out of food stamps. "More policy and cultural change has happened around these goals in the past 2 years than any time in history," he wrote, adding that "this movement is just getting started."

Whether that is enough to keep MAHA moms on board in November remains to be seen.

Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.