The fight to protect our children from harmful vaping products is not just about health—it’s about defending our nation’s values, our laws, and our future. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has taken bold steps to stop what they call the “youth vaping epidemic.” And make no mistake: it is an epidemic.
Over 1.6 million American children were still using e-cigarettes in 2024, even though it is illegal to sell these products to anyone under age 21. Most of these devices are flavored, cheaply made, and come from overseas—especially from China. In fact, 90 percent of the illegal vapes seized in a major federal operation in Chicago this September were Chinese imports. These shipments were disguised as toys and electronics to sneak past our border agents. That’s not just dishonest—it’s dangerous.
Thankfully, the Trump administration is not sitting back. It has launched the Make America Healthy Again Commission, which is taking real action. The commission has called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to crack down on illegal products and educate the public about the dangers of vaping. It’s also pushing for better enforcement at the border and stronger rules for retailers and importers.
The new Youth Vaping Resource Guide from HHS is another important tool. This guide gives parents, teachers, doctors, and lawmakers the information they need to fight back. It explains how nicotine harms a young brain. Did you know the human brain doesn’t fully develop until around age 25? That means using nicotine during teen years can cause lasting problems with memory, focus, and decision-making. It can also increase anxiety and depression. In the long run, it raises the risk of serious diseases like cancer and heart failure.
These are not small risks. They are life-changing. And yet, companies—many of them foreign—are using bright colors and candy flavors to trick kids into thinking these products are fun and harmless. Some vaping devices even look like USB drives or toys. This is not a mistake; it is a marketing strategy aimed directly at our children.
We must remember that only 39 e-cigarette products are legally approved for sale in the United States. But according to HHS, up to 85 percent of the products sold in stores today are illegal. That is a failure of enforcement, and it’s a direct threat to our country’s youth.
Under President Trump’s leadership, that is changing. Law enforcement has already seized nearly 5 million illegal vape units worth over $86 million. That’s a strong message to the world: America will not tolerate foreign companies poisoning our children for profit.
But this is also a matter of states’ rights and parental responsibility. Local leaders, school boards, and parents must be involved. The federal government can help, but it’s up to each community to educate, protect, and guide its young people. The new guide encourages parents to talk openly with their kids, and for schools to teach the truth about nicotine and addiction.
Some critics might say the government is overstepping. But this isn’t about banning products for adults—this is about enforcing the laws we already have and stopping illegal sales to kids. It’s about keeping dangerous foreign-made products off our store shelves and out of our schools.
Vaping is not just a public health issue. It’s a test of our national will. Are we going to let foreign companies and weak border policies flood our markets with illegal, harmful products? Or will we stand firm, defend our laws, and put the health of our children first?
Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Kennedy, we are finally seeing leadership on this issue. The Constitution gives us the tools to protect our people and enforce our laws. Now is the time to use them. Let’s put American kids first, stop illegal foreign vapes, and restore health and liberty to the next generation.
