Could MAHA Be Stifled From Within?

Concerns abound regarding Trump's nomination of Jim O'Neill, a Thiel-linked biotech investor, as deputy secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services on February 13, 2025, to the delight of crunchy moms and alternative health enthusiasts across the nation.

Immediately after his swearing-in by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) Commission, which Kennedy will chair. This commission aims to investigate the root causes of chronic diseases, with a particular focus on childhood conditions like autism, cancer, and obesity. Kennedy has emphasized "radical transparency" and "gold-standard science" as guiding principles, promising to address what he calls "corporate capture" of agencies like the FDA, NIH, and CDC by removing conflicts of interest among staff.

During the ceremony, he told reporters his first priorities include ending corruption within these agencies and ensuring unimpeded scientific inquiry, though no specific actions—like staff firings or policy changes—have been publicly detailed yet.

There’s undeniably a lot of excitement and anticipation regarding RFK jr.’s vision, however, concerns that he could be undermined or “reined-in” by his own department have begun to proliferate online in the alternative media space.

Back in November, President Donald Trump announced that biotech investor Jim O’Neill would be his nominee for deputy secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Jim O'Neill - Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Assuming his confirmation goes through, O’Neill would work under Kennedy overseeing the day-to-day operations of HHS, a sprawling agency that includes the FDA, NIH, CDC, Medicare, Medicaid, and more. The Deputy Secretary acts as the chief operating officer, managing internal processes, coordinating across sub-agencies, and ensuring the department’s policies align with the administration’s goals—here, Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda alongside HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

There are concerns that O’Neill might undermine or work against Kennedy’s agenda. These fears stem from differences in their backgrounds, priorities, and approaches to health policy, as well as O’Neill’s ties to certain ideological and industry circles. While nothing’s set in stone—O’Neill’s confirmation is still pending as of February 25, 2025—here’s what’s fueling the speculation.

Kennedy built his platform on skepticism of mainstream medicine, vaccine safety reviews, and rooting out corporate influence in agencies like the FDA and CDC. His “MAHA” vision emphasizes transparency, chronic disease prevention, and challenging Big Pharma. O’Neill, however, comes from a Silicon Valley biotech world, with deep ties to Peter Thiel (Bilderberg Steering Committee, Israel/CIA ties, alleged Epstein associate, Opus Dei connections) and a track record of pushing experimental technologies like regenerative medicine and anti-aging therapies.

Counter to what RFK has proposed, O’Neill has previously advocated for lighter FDA regulation—approving drugs based on safety alone, not efficacy—which could clash with Kennedy’s focus on rigorous science and public trust.

Kennedy sets the vision, but as Deputy Secretary, O’Neill would run daily operations, oversee a $2 trillion budget, and manage sub-agencies. If their goals diverge, O’Neill could slow-roll Kennedy’s plans or prioritize biotech innovation over, say, Kennedy’s fluoride removal or vaccine studies. During the Bush era, O’Neill resisted FDA oversight of algorithm-driven diagnostics like 23andMe, hinting at a comfort with less control that might irk Kennedy’s base, who want tighter scrutiny of corporate health tools.

Author and independent journalist Whitney Webb has been vocal about her distrust of O’Neill on X and her publication Unlimited Hangout.

That said, there’s no hard proof of hostility. Trump paired them to “fight in unison,” and Kennedy called O’Neill “the perfect partner” in November 2024, praising his experience. O’Neill’s operational know-how—streamlining FDA rules and launching the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response—could complement Kennedy’s big-picture goals if they align on execution.

The rub lies in their overlap and divergence. Both want HHS reform, but Kennedy’s about dismantling corruption, while O’Neill’s history leans toward unleashing innovation—sometimes at safety’s expense. If O’Neill’s confirmed, the fear is he could quietly pivot HHS toward Thiel-esque priorities, diluting Kennedy’s mission. No one’s seen them clash yet—Kennedy’s only 12 days in—but the chatter reflects real unease about their chemistry. Time will tell if it’s paranoia or prophecy.

Another general area of concern for those who remain partially skeptical that Donald Trump’s administration is truly populist and not concealed globalism is how much overlap there is between Palantir, “Thiel-world” and “Trump world.”

Peter Thiel is currently a member of the Bilderberg Steering Committee, which many take as an indication that he is embedded in the international elite or “globalist” milieu. He has been actively involved with the Bilderberg Meetings for years, attending his first meeting in 2007 and joining the Steering Committee by at least 2010. As of the most recent updates, including the 2024 Bilderberg Meeting participant lists, Thiel remains listed as a Steering Committee member, serving as President of Thiel Capital LLC. His consistent participation—attending every meeting since 2007—underscores his longstanding role in shaping the group’s agenda and guest list, a key function of the committee. There’s no indication he’s stepped down as of February 25, 2025.

Whether or not the Bilderberg Meetings of today are as consequential as they were in the 20th century is something we can only speculate on.

Despite all of these concerns, there’s nothing concrete indicating that things will not go as planned. For my part, I’m still quite optimistic about where this administration is heading, but that doesn’t mean we should turn a blind eye to all criticisms and worries.