Investigation: Trump Administration Figures Pushed to Downplay Kratom Risks Amid Industry Influence Campaign

Why it matters

This investigation reveals how federal drug policy on kratom was shaped by political donations and industry lobbying, raising serious questions about the integrity of the regulatory process affecting millions of users and public health officials. The findings matter directly for anyone relying on FDA safety signals — or waiting for them.

The big picture

The kratom industry has spent years navigating federal enforcement actions and state bans. The Trump administration's arrival created an opening: a political coalition aligned around the Make America Healthy Again agenda gave industry figures access to cabinet-level officials. At the same time, the FDA moved to drop a lawsuit against a major kratom company and removed enforcement links from its kratom webpage. The investigation draws a direct line between donations, lobbying access, and policy outcomes.

Key findings

• Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin held an investment worth up to $1 million in Botanic Tonics while lobbying the FDA to downplay kratom safety warnings
• The Justice Department dropped a federal lawsuit against Botanic Tonics in December 2025, citing expired product and discretionary enforcement; the company celebrated it as a sign of regulatory receptiveness
• Botanic Tonics donated $1 million to MAHA PAC — associated with RFK Jr. — accounting for 44% of all PAC fundraising in a four-month period
• An industry group called Stop Gas Station Heroin paid lobbying firm Checkmate Government Relations at least $600,000 to push for synthetic 7-OH restrictions while protecting natural kratom sales
• CDC data shows kratom was found in the systems of more than 5,200 overdose deaths from 2020 through 2024

What they say

Ryan Niddel, CEO of Diversified Botanics, told The New York Times: "It's not pay to play. It's pay to have conversations. It's pay to have a chance at the table. And anybody that considers any of the lobbying work or any of the governmental work that goes on being different than that, I think has their head buried in the sand at this point."

Bottom line

A New York Times investigation found that kratom industry figures spent millions gaining access to Trump administration officials — and that FDA safety warnings were quietly removed and a federal lawsuit dropped as the influence campaign proceeded.