White House just announced they’re ending the ‘war,’ and people have one question: What war?

The White House made a surprising announcement, saying they are officially ending the “war on protein.” The problem is, most people had no idea this war even existed. The announcement was posted on the White House X account with the tagline “MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN” and linked to new dietary guidelines on realfood.gov.

According to The Daily Dot, the post included an image that said “We are ending the war on protein” over a dark photo of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This announcement is part of President Trump’s plan to change national dietary advice, which includes completely flipping the traditional food pyramid upside down.

For years, dietary guidelines told people to eat mostly whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, with meat and dairy in smaller amounts at the top. The new guidelines flip this completely, making beef and cheese the foundation instead. This is a major change from what Americans have been told to eat for decades.

The new guidelines push much higher protein intake

The website states that every meal must focus on “high-quality, nutrient-dense protein from both animal and plant sources, paired with healthy fats from whole foods such as eggs, seafood, meats, full-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados.” This is a major change from what Americans have been told to eat for decades.

The new guidelines recommend eating 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight every day. That’s a huge amount for most people and completely different from previous advice. Critics have questioned whether Kennedy’s health advice is sound given his controversial track record.

Most people online reacted with total confusion to the “war on protein” phrase. Nobody can remember anyone actually criticizing protein itself. While doctors have warned against eating too much red meat because of health risks, the problem was never protein, which everyone agrees the body needs.

The dark, shadowy photo of Secretary Kennedy Jr. also raised eyebrows. User @mfBRAT_eth commented, “don’t keep this pillar of health in the shadows!” alongside a brightly lit photo. Paul A. Szypula joked, “Let’s end the war on exercise too.” The dramatic lighting made the announcement look unusually intense for a standard government statement.

Other users created parody versions mocking the announcement style. One post showed a similarly dark image with text reading “WE ARE ENDING THE WAR ON BRAIN WORMS,” referencing past controversies. Many have noted how Kennedy faces criticism for his own health-related controversies. The humor showed how strange people found the entire presentation and messaging.