"During his yearlong tenure leading the Food and Drug Administration, Marty Makary managed to bother various constituencies, but it was fruit-flavored vapes that apparently sealed his fate.

Tobacco industry executives and lobbyists leaned on Donald Trump and his team to expand access to the flavored vaping products, a move that Makary had been slow to approve. By some accounts, the president ended up personally “upbraiding” the FDA commissioner on the matter.

The agency ultimately did what the White House wanted and authorized the fruit-flavored vapes, shortly after Trump’s intervention, but the damage to Makary’s role at the FDA proved too much. He and the administration parted ways days later."

Steve Benen reports for MS NOW May 21, 2026. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"A $5 Million Donation From Big Tobacco Preceded F.D.A. Vape Decision" (New York Times) [3]

"Opinion: The FDA Authorizes Unauthorized Nicotine Products" (Washington Post) [4]