A confrontation between Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health movement and agricultural interests played out last week in the Oval Office, forcing President Trump to navigate competing demands from two key constituencies within his political coalition.
During a Thursday meeting, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall warned Trump that signing a pesticide-focused executive order could alienate farming groups that had supported him. Kennedy and allied farmers present pushed back, creating what one attendee called a "shocking" exchange. Trump ultimately signed the order that afternoon, and Duvall reversed course to back it.
The clash revealed deep fissures in Trump's base. Kennedy's MAHA movement contends that conventional pesticides are harming public health and wants alternatives promoted in the food supply. The agricultural industry sees restrictions as an existential threat, warning that reduced pesticide use would spike food prices and cost farmers billions.
Kennedy, now HHS secretary, attended the meeting alongside Trump, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Duvall. Kennedy raised the stakes by pointing to a Supreme Court ruling handed down that same day that made it harder to sue pesticide manufacturers over alleged health damages. He framed the executive order as necessary to counter that legal loss.
Jonathan Lundgren, a South Dakota farmer and former USDA official in the room, pushed Trump to sign. "One of the take-home messages I really wanted [Trump] to understand is that the farmers were sick right now," Lundgren said. "We're literally killing our farmers with these food systems." Several other farmers echoed support for regenerative agriculture approaches that reduce pesticide reliance.
Duvall, representing more than 5 million farming and ranching members, refused to budge initially. He praised the Supreme Court's ruling and warned Trump that signing the order risked losing farm support. Lundgren recalled that Trump "wanted to understand why Zippy was so worried."
The meeting grew heated. Kennedy deputy Calley Means and Duvall clashed, with Means accusing Duvall of not reading the order. "It was intense in there," Lundgren said. "They were arguing. It was back and forth."
Trump turned to aides for advice. Rollins, who has publicly defended glyphosate and other conventional pesticides, recommended signing. After gathering more input, Trump signed the order. Duvall then said he would support it, and farming representatives later dined with Trump, Kennedy, and Rollins on the Rose Garden patio.
A Farm Bureau spokesman said Duvall's objections focused on the order's "insinuation that our food supply is not safe," not opposition to exploring alternatives. White House spokesperson Kush Desai said Trump "listens to a variety of opinions from many subject experts to inform his decision-making."
Author James Rodriguez: "This wasn't a meeting, it was a cage match between two irreconcilable views of American agriculture, and Trump's signature on that order shows Kennedy's health crusade now carries real presidential weight."
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