A poll that hasn’t been made public seems to challenge the White House’s rationale for changing its stance on pharmaceutical companies. The Daily Caller News Foundation accessed a confidential October 2025 poll conducted by Tony Fabrizio, who has been a pollster for Donald Trump. The results revealed that 73% of voters were worried about mandatory childhood vaccinations, while a staggering 90% were concerned about the pharmaceutical industry’s corrupt influence.
This October poll had not been released previously. Instead, to rationalize his shift in food policy during an election year, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. referenced a later and more limited poll from Fabrizio—one that suggested the vaccination issue was politically detrimental. Last week marked a significant turning point in the Kennedy Health Department’s approach to vaccinations, prompted by the departure of a key Trump administration official involved in setting childhood immunization schedules.
Fabrizio’s covert poll indicates voters are primarily concerned about the drug lobby’s impact on public health policies, medical research, and media reporting. It also showed that almost 70% of respondents wanted further investigation into the cumulative effects of vaccines on infants. While the DCNF has the poll, it’s not disclosing it due to a source’s wishes for confidentiality.
Fabrizio’s firm, Fabrizio Lee, did not return a request for comment.
Changes at the FDA
Since April 30, three top FDA drug policy officials, including Commissioner Marty McCully, have been dismissed, all of whom were notable critics of the Biden administration’s COVID vaccine strategy and have advocated for better agency standards.
Recently, Mr. Kennedy and the White House restructured their relationship with the FDA following disputes with Mr. McCully over regulations related to e-cigarettes and injectable treatments. Kennedy’s approach involved using existing FDA databases to mirror older vaccine safety studies, whereas McCully sought more comprehensive clinical trials from vaccine manufacturers.
There is now a review of FDA policies due to lobbying efforts from pharmaceutical companies, as reported by Endpoint News. The White House seems eager to dial back existing policies amidst the turmoil.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and HHS Chief Counsel Chris Klomp support various initiatives, such as Trump Rx, a website intended for direct sales of medications at discounted prices, and an executive order aimed at researching psychedelic drugs for mental health treatment.
Poll Questions on Vaccinations
An undisclosed poll from October indicated that nearly 75% of participants were apprehensive about mandatory childhood vaccinations. However, a different poll conducted just a month later framed questions differently, asking if established childhood vaccine guidelines for diseases should be removed. Following this, Kennedy’s approval rating dropped to just 22%.
This hidden poll also gauged public sentiment towards the pharmaceutical sector, with only 18% viewing it favorably. There was broad support among voters for limiting the power of vaccine manufacturers, enhancing parental decision-making, and expanding research.
A bipartisan majority—over 68%—supported statements asserting that the NIH should investigate potential vaccine complications for infants, that manufacturers shouldn’t get blanket immunity, and holding either the government or individuals accountable for vaccination decisions, rather than just the government. Merely 11% believed the government should have sole authority over vaccination decisions.
Interestingly, 37% of respondents saw no need to alter current vaccination practices, while 45% preferred families to have the option to space out vaccination schedules, and 8% felt it wasn’t entirely safe. The published poll, however, focused on individual vaccines that did gain substantial support.
Conducted among 1,500 registered voters, Fabrizio’s October poll and an earlier August poll both aimed to capture a representative sample. Subsequent polling in December targeted competitive Congressional districts.
Challenges Facing the MAHA Movement
Internal polls pointed to communication problems. Most voters aware of the MAHA movement were already supportive of the president. Republicans advocating for a return to older MAHA guidelines often referenced action against artificial ingredients, while Democrats frequently brought up negative press surrounding autism relates to the administration’s policies.
Fabrizio’s analysis suggested that while many voters had health concerns, only a third identified themselves as part of the MAHA movement. Also noted was that some voters believed the movement lacked a scientific basis due to recent discussions about autism and vaccines.
Last year, the DCNF had reported on internal FDA documents highlighting ongoing worries about Tylenol’s potential neurological risks to infants, which were dismissed by mainstream media.
The situation surrounding McCully escalated as he faced increasing criticism for rejecting certain medicines and subsequently resigned. Notably, a melanoma drug was turned down by the FDA due to a lack of a control group in clinical trials.
There was considerable media buzz around regulatory hurdles impacting mRNA influenza vaccines and experimental treatments, leading to more staffing changes at the FDA, including Tracy Beth Hogue’s departure following controversies over immunization policy adjustments aimed at aligning with practices in other developed nations. A Gallup poll indicated a drop from 94% in 2001 to 69% in 2024 of those considering childhood vaccinations as important.
