Former Health and Human Services senior adviser Calley Means has designated Iowa as the focal point for the Make America Healthy Again movement, highlighting the state’s agricultural foundation and urgent debates surrounding cancer rates and food policy.
Speaking at a late October get-out-the-vote rally in Clive, Iowa, just outside Des Moines, Means pointed to gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn and agricultural advocates as central figures in confronting systemic health and economic challenges. The October 28 event featured appearances by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Lahn, Means, and various health and consumer representatives ahead of midterm elections.
In an interview following the rally, Means expanded on why the state serves as a template for broader reform. “Iowa is ground zero,” Means said. “When we think of agriculture, we think of Iowa and the MAHA message that we need to put farmers at the center of health and have a thriving farm economy.” He emphasized that achieving this requires difficult inquiries into the future of farming and real food production.
Means’s remarks follow his October 22 announcement resigning from the administration via a post on X, where he expressed respect for President Trump and Kennedy while pledging ongoing dedication to the MAHA initiative. During his administration tenure, Means worked on policies targeting dietary guidelines reform, psychedelic research, removing soda from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, food dye restrictions, Generally Recognized as Safe reforms, and government food procurement overhauls.
Addressing attendees at the Clive rally, Means reflected on his time working alongside Kennedy, praising his integrity and resilience against entrenched Washington infrastructure. He characterized the current decade as a decisive period for American institutions, which he argued face failure due to leadership shortcomings.
Means praised Lahn for publicly addressing cancer rates in Iowa, noting that the topic resonates deeply with local residents. He recounted pushback from a Washington lobbyist who claimed constituents could not handle complex policy questions, a notion Means rejected. “The people of Iowa can grapple with complex challenges,” he said.
Furthermore, Means criticized the international monopolization of farming, financial pressures on family farms, and foreign land acquisition by hedge funds and foreign entities. He argued that powerful industries and pharmaceutical companies financially benefit from chronic illness and agricultural consolidation.
“Corruption is now the number one issue for Americans,” Means concluded, attributing healthcare, agricultural, and affordability crises to a lack of candid leadership.
