A recent poll conducted by KFF and the Associated Press indicates that many supporters of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, particularly those in rural areas, have doubts about the effectiveness of the Trump administration’s health policies in their communities.
The survey found that around 80% of rural voters believe that the administration’s health policies have either harmed or had no impact on the health of people within their areas. Among those who identified with the MAHA movement, about 68% echoed similar sentiments, as highlighted by the poll.
Interestingly, only 10% of rural Democratic voters expressed “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In contrast, 74% of rural Republicans responded positively in the same regard. The numbers were quite stark when it came to trust in President Trump for health information, with 5% of rural Democrats and 69% of rural Republicans indicating a similar level of trust.
An HHS spokesperson commented that the poll reflects only a small group of voters yet makes extensive claims about the Make America Healthy Again initiative’s influence in rural areas across the country. They emphasized that the Trump administration, alongside Secretary Kennedy, has prioritized rural America in its health agenda.
Thanks to @POTUS and the One Big Beautiful Bill, we’re making the largest investment in rural health in a generation.
$50 billion over 5 years will go to rural hospitals and communities—strengthening the backbone of America and giving our farmers the support they’ve long… pic.twitter.com/Gwyg1wRxZW
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) August 4, 2025
On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced a $20 million investment aimed at improving healthcare technology and enhancing patient access in rural North Carolina through the Rural Health Transformation Program.
In a statement, Secretary Kennedy remarked, “President Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live. We are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home.”
He further stated, “We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.”
The poll surveyed 2,241 registered voters from rural areas of the U.S. between August 12 and 24. It was based on a sample from the SSRS Opinion Panel and carried a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
According to HHS, health centers funded through the HRSA served 308,000 additional rural patients last year compared to 2024. They are also building on those numbers with a commitment of $50 billion to enhance rural healthcare across all states and an investment of $11.2 million to establish new physician residency programs in rural areas spanning 14 states. The spokesperson stated that the administration has made significant reforms in the way the federal government manages issues related to food, nutrition, and chronic diseases.
They concluded by mentioning initiatives like restoring real food to the Dietary Guidelines, investing in advanced agricultural technologies to minimize chemical exposure, and formulating the first federal definition of ultra-processed food, emphasizing the proactive stance of the administration in areas where previous efforts had failed for decades.
