Senior adviser Calley Means resigns from Trump administration ahead of midterms

Means, a key figure in the Make America Healthy Again movement, announced his departure without giving a reason.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 23 Oct 2026 02:44:24 GMT

Calley Means, a senior adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a leading voice in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, announced his resignation from the Trump administration on Thursday, days before the November 2026 midterm elections.

What happened

Means said he was leaving “with tremendous respect for President Trump and Bobby Kennedy,” posting the statement on X. The resignation was reported by the Associated Press and confirmed by both news18.com and Scientific American. No specific reason for the departure was provided.

What the reports add

News18 noted that Means' exit comes amid growing frustration among some MAHA supporters over the administration’s slow progress on food‑safety, pesticide regulation and other health reforms.
Scientific American highlighted that Means touted MAHA achievements such as changes to dietary guidelines, promotion of psychedelic‑based treatments, and the removal of soda from SNAP benefits.
News18 quoted White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster saying the administration was “grateful” for Means’ service and that “he has done a fantastic job for the MAHA movement.”
Health activist Kelly Ryerson praised Means for “fighting the food battle” despite “obstacles from corporate interests.”
Both outlets reported that Means’ sister, wellness entrepreneur Casey Means, had been nominated for U.S. surgeon general earlier in the year, a nomination later withdrawn amid concerns over her vaccine and alternative‑medicine positions.

What was said

“They laid out a vision of combatting the entrenched, dark forces in DC that profit from Americans getting sick,” Means wrote on X, according to Scientific American.

“The past two years have seen historic policy and cultural change to confront the chronic disease crisis and healthcare incentives that profit from us being sick,” Means said, as reported by News18.

“Leaves with tremendous respect for President Donald Trump and Kennedy,” Means added, echoed by both outlets.

How it came about

The resignation follows a series of Trump‑related moves ahead of the midterms, including a $400 million spending pledge reported on October 20 (Felo News) and a statement on possible pardons for administration members on October 2. Means, who co‑founded the telehealth company Truemed and has no formal health‑care credentials, had been a senior adviser since early 2025. Scientific American also noted that Means had previously helped connect Kennedy with Trump before the 2024 election, a link that led to Kennedy’s appointment to lead HHS.

Key facts

Calley Means resigned from the Trump administration on October 23, 2026. (news18.com)
Means served as a senior adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (scientificamerican.com)
Means announced his departure on X, saying he left with respect for President Trump and Bobby Kennedy. (scientificamerican.com)
The resignation was reported by the Associated Press and confirmed by both news18.com and Scientific American. (news18.com)