RFK Jr Talks Kennedy Legacy, Launches 'Mountaineer Mile' Under MAHA in West Virginia

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new Health and Human Services Secretary, kicked off his "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) initiative in none other than Martinsburg, West Virginia—a state with deep ties to the Kennedy legacy. And let’s just say, the symbolism was as thick as Appalachian fog.

Kennedy evoked the memory of his family's political battles, recalling the 1928 presidential campaign of former New York Governor Al Smith, a Catholic politician who faced an onslaught of anti-Catholic sentiment. That campaign, he noted, stirred a resurgence of groups like the Ku Klux Klan and ended in a landslide loss to Herbert Hoover. For a family as steeped in history as the Kennedys, this was clearly more than just a history lesson—it was a setup for why West Virginia mattered so much in John F. Kennedy's own 1960 presidential bid.

"It was critical for my uncle's campaign that he win this state to show the country that a Catholic could win the presidency," Kennedy said. He described how JFK, along with a veritable army of Kennedys, campaigned tirelessly in the Mountain State, shaking hands and listening to communities. The result? A seven-point victory over Richard Nixon, which JFK credited as pivotal to his presidential success. "He always believed that he would not be president if he had not won this state," Kennedy added.

Fast-forward to today, and RFK Jr. is using his own platform to address a different kind of challenge in West Virginia: health. Teaming up with Governor Patrick Morrisey, Kennedy unveiled a groundbreaking policy to eliminate food dyes and certain preservatives from school lunches statewide by 2028. The duo also announced a request for federal waivers to restrict the use of SNAP benefits for soda purchases and to implement work requirements for eligibility. If that wasn’t enough, they introduced the "Mountaineer Mile" initiative, urging every West Virginian to walk at least one mile daily. Talk about ambitious.

"Today we're here to focus on making West Virginia healthy," Morrisey declared, adding that the MAHA movement officially launched in the state that very afternoon. With West Virginia currently leading the nation in obesity rates, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Morrisey later shared sunset snapshots of his own "Mountaineer Miles" on social media, proving he’s walking the walk—literally.

For Kennedy, this health-focused agenda is a continuation of his long-standing fight against pollution, albeit with a twist. "Now, my new role allows me to continue fighting a different type of pollution and giving people a chance to live healthier lives," he said.

It’s refreshing to see a public health initiative so steeped in both history and practicality. And let’s be honest: if a Kennedy tells you to walk a mile a day, you might just lace up your sneakers.