Trump on the MAHA Report: 'More Than 40 Percent of American Children Now Have at Least One Chronic Health Condition' (May 22, 2025)

President Donald Trump read out what his health commission found about America’s children, and he called it alarming. “Here are just some of the alarming findings. And they really are alarming. Unbelievable. Terrible. More than 40 percent of American children now have at least one chronic health condition,” Trump said in the East Room on May 22, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“There’s something wrong, and we will not stop until we defeat the chronic disease epidemic in America. We’re going to get it done,” he said [1].

The video above shows Trump receiving the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s first report on May 22, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project [1][2].

”Over 20 Percent Are Obese”

Trump went down the list. Since the 1970s, he said, “rates of childhood cancer have soared, in many cases, by nearly 50 percent—five-oh—50 percent.” [1]

“In the 1960s, less than 5 percent of the children were obese. Now over 20 percent are obese,” Trump said [1].

“Just a few decades ago, 1 in 10,000 children had autism. Today, it’s 1 in 31,” he said [1].

The report, he said, looks at “the ultraprocessed foods, overmedicalization and overprescription, and widespread exposure to potentially toxic chemicals.” [1]

“We Will Not Be Silenced”

“Unlike other administrations, we will not be silenced or intimidated by the corporate lobbyists or special interests,” Trump said [1].

“And we’ll not allow our public health system to be captured by the very industries it’s supposed to oversee,” he said [1].

“Already, we’re phasing out eight of the most common artificial food dyes. And we ended the most serious conflicts of interest at the FDA,” Trump said [1].

“Earlier this week, we approved a SNAP waiver request from Nebraska so they can stop taxpayer dollars from being used to make our children obese,” he said [1].

”MAHA Has Become Hot”

Trump joked that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had borrowed his slogan. “Bobby, I’m not sure you can get away with that without having to make a major payment,” he said. “I copyrighted it,” Kennedy shot back, to laughter [1].

“But no, MAHA has become hot,” Trump said. “Over the past few years, we’ve built an unstoppable coalition of moms and dads, doctors and young people, and citizens of all backgrounds who have come together to protect our children.” [1]

He told a story about their history. “In one case, he did stop a job, and I was really angry. And then, about 4 months later, the—we went into, like, a depression, and I saved a hell of a lot of money,” Trump said of Kennedy. “You’re welcome,” Kennedy said [1].

”A Call to Action for Common Sense”

“At its core, this report is a call to action for common sense,” Kennedy said. “We’ve relied too much on conflicted research, ignored common sense or what would—some would call ‘mother’s intuition.’” [1]

“It’s common sense that ultraprocessed, nutrient-poor food contributes to chronic disease. It’s common sense that excessive screen time and isolation lead to anxiety and depression, especially in children,” he said [1].

“It’s common sense that exercise and healthy food should come before prescriptions and surgery,” Kennedy said. “It’s common sense that research funded by corporations deserves more scrutiny than independent studies.” [1]

“President Trump, I’m honored to present you the MAHA report and work with this incredible Cabinet that you have brought together to make our children healthy again,” he said [1].

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins added: “First, on behalf of an extremely grateful nation and on behalf of a lot of extremely grateful MAHA moms who are out there, Secretary Kennedy and Mr. President, thank you.” [1]

“No Sacred Cows”

“In your remarks and in the report, it’s very clear that there are no sacred cows when it comes to our children’s health,” said Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley [1].

Medicare and Medicaid chief Mehmet Oz said: “I think it’s a moral failing if we don’t address this, but it’s definitely a financial failing as well. Fifty percent of children are on Medicaid or on the CHIP program. It is an obligation we all have to address this reality.” [1]

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said: “The United States is the best in the world when it comes to proton beam therapy, CAR–T sophisticated operations. But when it comes to the health of the population, it’s been a 50-year failure. And we have got to change course.” [1]

By the Numbers

40 percent+: children with at least one chronic health condition, per Trump [1].
Nearly 50 percent: the rise in childhood cancer since the 1970s, per Trump [1].
5 percent to 20 percent+: childhood obesity since the 1960s, per Trump [1].
8: artificial food dyes being phased out, per Trump [1].

What Happened Next

Trump turned to AI against childhood cancer. On Sept. 30, 2025, he signed Executive Order 14355, Unlocking Cures for Pediatric Cancer With Artificial Intelligence. “Pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death for children in the United States aged 1-19 years, and its incidence has increased by more than 40 percent since 1975,” the order says [2].

“As outlined in my joint address to the Congress in March, reversing this trend is one of the top priorities for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission,” it says [2].

For Trump and the first lady signing the Take It Down Act to protect children online, see HYGO News’ page on May 19, 2025. For Trump on artificial intelligence at the July AI summit, see the page on July 23, 2025.