In his first comments describing the pressure he faced before resigning in May, Makary told reporters that the push from administration officials was not focused on medical cures or healthy food but on expanding approvals for e-cigarettes.

“A lot of pressure from White House and HHS aides was not on medical cures or healthy food but instead on getting more vapes approved and catering to lobbyists,” Makary said. “Americans don’t want their kids smoking strawberry banana vapes — they want a government that stands up to corruption.”

Makary, who led the Food and Drug Administration until his resignation this spring, added that he resisted the pressure at every turn. “Every time I saw government corruption, I rejected it, just as voters did last week,” he said, an apparent reference to recent elections.

The remarks amplify criticism first raised by a former White House adviser about industry influence over the administration’s health care policies. They also put a spotlight on the FDA’s handling of vaping products, an issue that has divided public health advocates, parents and the tobacco and nicotine industry.

For local communities, the allegations raise questions about whether federal regulators are safeguarding children from flavored nicotine products or yielding to corporate lobbying. Public health experts have long warned that sweet and fruit-flavored vapes appeal to minors and can lead to nicotine addiction.

The White House and HHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Makary’s accusations come as the administration faces broader scrutiny over its health policy decisions and the influence of industry players in Washington.