Rich Danker, a top spokesman for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., resigned from his position in protest of the Trump administration's vaping policy. In his resignation letter to President Trump, Danker argued that permitting flavored e-cigarette sales would increase their appeal to minors.
The departure underscores tension within the administration over tobacco regulation. Kennedy, who leads the Health and Human Services Department, has advocated for stricter tobacco controls as part of his broader health agenda. The decision to allow flavored vaping products conflicts with that stance and marks a public break between Kennedy's team and Trump's regulatory direction.
The vaping policy reversal reflects competing priorities in the White House. Anti-smoking advocates worry that flavored nicotine products drive youth addiction. Health organizations have consistently cited fruit, candy, and dessert flavors as key drivers of teen vaping adoption. The Centers for Disease Control reported that roughly 10 percent of U.S. high school students used e-cigarettes in 2023.
Danker's exit signals deeper discord over Kennedy's role in shaping public health policy. The RFK Jr. pick for HHS generated immediate controversy due to his vaccine skepticism and promotion of unproven health remedies. This resignation adds another layer of uncertainty around his actual authority within the administration.
The vaping reversal also carries financial implications. E-cigarette manufacturers including British American Tobacco and Altria Group stand to benefit from expanded flavor availability, potentially boosting sales and stock performance. Public health advocates view the move as a retreat from years of FDA restrictions designed to limit youth access.
The timing matters. Trump's administration is just weeks old, and internal departures on health policy signal the administration may face ongoing friction between Kennedy's ideological preferences and Trump's pro-business regulatory stance.