A former White House staffer has accused some Trump administration advisors of treating the former president "like a baby" and prioritizing special interests over his agenda. Calley Means, who also served as a top aide to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) initiative, stated on CBS's Face the Nation that he believes the president was "subverted" by top aides and strategists who allegedly accepted money from external groups.
Means specifically targeted Susie Wiles, who was recently removed as Chief of Staff and is moving to a role within Trump's political operation. He claimed that Wiles and others blocked access to information for the president and pushed policies that benefited industries like vaping, ultra-processed foods, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides, often without Trump's full knowledge. "Underneath Trump's nose, in many cases, you had a group of former lobbyists... doing their bidding with an excuse that we need their money for the midterms," Means said.
He further alleged that companies looking to influence policy would hire Wiles' daughter, Katie, for lobbyist work, suggesting this led to preferential treatment. "If you're a special interest and you want to get something done, the secret's out. You pay Susie's daughter, and it was openly discussed when they had a client," Means told podcaster Joe Rogan, echoing claims he made in a separate interview.
Means also criticized GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio, citing his pharmaceutical clients, though Fabrizio denied the allegations, stating his firm's research has supported cracking down on Big Pharma. Heidi Overton, a White House Domestic Policy Council aide and Trump's nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, was also identified by Means as a significant obstacle to MAHA policies, a claim disputed by White House spokesman Kush Desai.
These accusations come as Democrats, now holding majorities in the House and Senate, plan to investigate alleged corruption within the White House. However, some within the administration have defended the MAHA coalition's work under Trump, with White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster asserting that "the MAHA coalition has found a champion in President Trump who has made incredible strides to Make America Healthy Again."
Kennedy himself expressed gratitude for Wiles' leadership. Following Means' interview with Rogan, Trump announced Wiles' departure as chief of staff, though she had reportedly submitted her resignation the day prior. Means expressed support for Stephen Miller's appointment as Wiles' replacement, believing Miller is committed to the MAHA movement's goals.