Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose confirmation hearings began Jan. 29, promises to unite our country in pursuit of a healthier society through his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign.

Kennedy has been a controversial political figure this election season, first running against Donald Trump before dropping out of the race to endorse him. In turn, President Trump nominated Kennedy as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.  

“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation,” Trump said in a post to Truth Social in November. “The HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives.” 

Despite the past controversy around him, Kennedy’s health goals and MAHA campaign make him the perfect pick for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services under Trump’s second term. One of his many promises is to overhaul the Food and Drug Administration to remove the unqualified appointments from the past administration, something Trump planned for most, if not all, major government departments.

The goals outlined by Trump for Kennedy and the HHS will be the primary objectives of Kennedy’s time in office. His goals are ambitious: He has committed to end the epidemic of chronic diseases in America and to slow the continuing trend of diagnosed disorders, including depression, ADHA, and anxiety. He has also promised to remove chemicals and additives from American diets — a tall order, but one already underway. 

This is great news for the country: Americans are not happy with the current state of our food. California, a state notorious for its many food warning labels, banned six food dyes from school foods in September 2024, including Red 40. This overwhelmingly liberal state is already beginning the process that Kennedy is spearheading. The FDA’s early January ban on Red Dye 3 in food is a sign the nation is realizing too many of our children are clinically obese and unable to focus.

The country’s two rival parties may have finally found common ground concerning our nation’s health. Kennedy could prove an unlikely peacemaker by uniting left and right over nutrition.

Kennedy has called out WK Kellogg for including artificial dyes in cereals made in America but not in the same cereal made in other countries with stricter food dye restrictions. McDonald’s faced Kennedy’s scorn for using seed oils while frying french fries, packing meals with overprocessed ingredients, and advertising giant serving sizes. The same meal served at a McDonald’s in the UK has fewer unnecessary ingredients, fewer chemicals, and smaller serving sizes, especially regarding drinks. Even here at Hillsdale, the dining hall now displays signs that food is made without seed oils. Kennedy’s new position enables him to be a voice for American citizens’ concerns regarding the dangers of these ingredients.

The tide is shifting when it comes to health in America. As evidenced by Kennedy’s expressed concerns and promises to bring health back to America, more people on both sides of the aisle are questioning our reliance on prescriptions for everything from eczema to depression and wondering what can be done naturally to fix these problems. In 2024, homesteading chicken owners and sourdough bakers brought the benefits of a more natural diet and lifestyle into the cultural spotlight. Even now, TikTok girls are ditching skincare products and opting for beef tallow, touting its chemical-free effectiveness. Although Kennedy was not in office at the beginning of these trends, his promise for his time at the HHS echoes what is already happening in American culture. 

Kennedy’s goals of overhauling the FDA and removing all manufactured chemicals from American diets may be too lofty to achieve in full during his time in office, but his determination regarding the failing state of our nation’s food will stay in the minds of Americans for generations to come. A natural America is coming, and it’s all a part of Kennedy’s plan.

Elaine Kutas is a sophomore studying English.