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Infighting Rocks Make America Healthy Again Movement Amid Vaccine Skepticism and Allegations of Misuse of Power

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Leaders within the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, a coalition of vaccine skeptics and wellness influencers, are embroiled in a public feud following a heated phone call between Calley Means, a special government employee for the Health and Human Services, and Pete Gillooly, the CEO of The Wellness Company. The dispute centers around allegations of tax fraud against Truemed, a company founded by Means, which provides letters from doctors to enable customers to use pre-tax dollars to purchase health and wellness products via their insurance. The Wellness Company has filed an official ethics complaint against Means, accusing him of misusing his position to negotiate and level threats in the name of direct financial gain. Loomer, a right-wing conspiracy theorist, has been posting allegations on X about Means and his "wellness influencer" sister, Casey Means, who was tapped to serve as Trump's surgeon general.

Key Takeaways:

  • A public feud has erupted within the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, with leaders on both sides trading accusations of wrongdoing and malfeasance.
  • The dispute centers around allegations of tax fraud against Truemed, a company founded by Calley Means, and The Wellness Company's claims that Means used his position to negotiate and level threats in the name of direct financial gain.
  • The Wellness Company has filed an official ethics complaint against Means with the Office of the Special Counsel and other agencies.
  • Loomer, a right-wing conspiracy theorist, has been posting allegations on X about Means and his "wellness influencer" sister, Casey Means.
  • The controversy has highlighted the growing influence of vaccine skeptics and wellness influencers within the MAHA movement, which has seen its influence grow considerably since President Trump entered office.

Statistics:

  • Calley Means, a special government employee at the Health and Human Services, accused The Wellness Company of leaking "provably untrue information" about his company, Truemed.
  • The Wellness Company's medical board is made up of vaccine critics, including Peter McCullough and Kelly Victory.
  • The Office of Civil Rights has reviewed The Wellness Company's ethics complaint against Calley Means and determined that it has the legal authority to investigate the matter.
  • The Trump administration has installed vaccine-skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the helm of the Health and Human Services department.

Sources:

  • Means, Calley. "I am going to sue the s*** out of you and escalate this if it continues." - Transcript of phone call between Means and Gillooly seen by The Independent.
  • Gillooly, Pete. "I have never spoken to Laura Loomer in my entire life." - Statement to Politico.
  • Loomer, Laura. "I look up stuff on my own." - Statement to Politico.
  • Politico. "The Wellness Company Files Ethics Complaint Against Calley Means." Politico, 2023.
  • The Independent. "Make America Healthy Again Movement Embroiled in Public Feud Over Vaccine Skepticism and Allegations of Misuse of Power." The Independent, 2023.
  • Health and Human Services. "Statement regarding allegations of tax fraud against Truemed." - Spokesperson for the Department.

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