JD Vance Sparks Outrage After Calling Common Pain Medication ‘Useless’ at MAHA Summit

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice President JD Vance ignited a political firestorm on Wednesday after publicly declaring that Ibuprofen — one of the most widely used pain medications in the world — is “useless,” adding that his stance makes him “one of those crazy people” inside Trump’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.

Speaking beside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the Trump administration’s official MAHA Summit, held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, Vance attempted to present himself as aligned with the initiative’s growing anti-medication, anti-pharmaceutical worldview. Instead, he triggered a wave of confusion, criticism, and disbelief.

“If I have like… you know, a back sprain, or I slept weird and I woke up with back pain, I don’t want to take Ibuprofen,” Vance said in front of a full auditorium of Trump officials and health influencers. “I don’t like taking medications unless I absolutely have to. It’s not anti-medication, it’s anti-useless medication.”

Vice President JD Vance called a common pain medication “useless,” attempting to show how he also has similar views to MAHA.

The vice president’s remarks — intended to flatter MAHA leadership by showing ideological alignment — quickly spiraled into ridicule online, where critics accused him of spreading pseudoscience and minimizing the role of safe, accessible medications used by millions.

Even Vance seemed to sense how bizarre the statement sounded. Before launching into his explanation, he prefaced it with a half-joking, half-revealing line:
“I’m one of these crazy people.”

The White House did not respond to questions about whether Vance’s comments reflect official health guidance from the administration.

A Summit Built on RFK Jr.’s Fringe Health Beliefs

The controversy comes at a time when MAHA — the Trump-era health crusade led by RFK Jr. — is under intense scrutiny for pushing scientifically unsupported beliefs about vaccines, medications, and chronic illness.

Kennedy, whose long history of vaccine misinformation has drawn widespread condemnation from scientists, used the summit to further promote his theory that American health depends on rejecting mainstream medicine. MAHA’s website claims it aims to “identify the root causes of the chronic disease epidemic,” but critics say it merely recycles Kennedy’s decades-old pseudoscience.

RFK Jr. has a long history of anti-vaccine or medication claims, from measles to Tylenol.

Under Kennedy’s leadership at HHS, the administration has already drawn outrage for:

refusing to promote the measles vaccine during a surge of infections
blaming hospitals for deaths linked to measles
claiming pregnant women and children should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine
suggesting Tylenol use could cause autism

Most recently, Kennedy went viral for declaring that circumcised children have double the rate of autism, an assertion widely debunked by medical experts.

Now, with Vance echoing claims that basic pain relief is “useless,” Democrats warn MAHA is drifting further into anti-science territory — with the vice president helping to legitimize its message.

Backlash From Politicians, Doctors, and Even Kennedy’s Own Family

Almost immediately after Vance’s comments circulated, medical professionals and lawmakers voiced alarm. One former HHS official called it “deeply irresponsible messaging from someone with a national platform.”

But perhaps the most surprising pushback came from inside the Kennedy family.

Just hours before Vance’s remarks, RFK Jr.’s cousin Jack Schlossberg — the grandson of President John F. Kennedy who just launched a congressional run — blasted him as “a rabid dog” spreading misinformation that endangers public health.

Jack Schlossberg, who announced his Congressional run on Nov. 11, attacked his cousin, RFK Jr., calling him “a rabid dog.”

Vance referenced Schlossberg’s criticism while praising his wife, Usha, whom he described as “one of the original MAHA people” due to her interest in “holistic living.” His attempt to humanize his stance did little to quell the confusion.

“MAHA has affected me in a profound way,” Vance said, describing how the movement had shifted his own beliefs about medication.

A Dangerous New Health Identity for the Trump Administration

For critics, Vance’s comments symbolized something deeper: the merging of high-level government policy with fringe health culture.

“The vice president calling Ibuprofen useless tells you everything you need to know,” said one Democratic strategist. “This is no longer health policy — it’s ideology.”

MAHA’s messaging, already controversial, is now fueling concerns that the Trump administration may use health agencies to undermine evidence-based medicine. Kennedy has already reshaped CDC recommendations, and doctors fear more is coming.

The vice president’s remarks, they argue, are a symptom of a broader shift: a health agenda prioritizing vibes, suspicion, and political branding over science.

As one public health researcher put it:
“Today it’s Ibuprofen. Tomorrow it’s chemotherapy.”

For now, JD Vance’s declaration is still reverberating through political and medical circles — a bizarre moment in a summit already filled with unconventional claims. But as MAHA continues gaining influence inside the administration, many fear this won’t be the last time a national leader dismisses basic medicine as “useless.”