The meeting quickly turned into a debate. The discussion centered on concerns that the order could be viewed as critical of pesticide use, with American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall opposing the measure. After hearing both sides, Trump approved the executive order.
Trump’s MAHA Farmers Meeting Turns Heated
A meeting between President Donald Trump, senior administration officials, and a group of regenerative farmers turned into an unexpected policy debate before Trump signed an executive order supporting regenerative agriculture.
The MAHA farmers Donald Trump meeting, which took place in the Oval Office, was initially expected to be a routine signing ceremony. Instead, Trump invited American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, who argued against the order. This led to a lengthy discussion involving Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, HHS adviser Calley Means, and several farmers.
According to farmers who attended the meeting, Duvall warned that the executive order could imply pesticides have harmful effects and said it would make it more difficult for him to advocate for Trump among farmers if the order was signed. In response, regenerative farmers defended the policy and spent almost an hour making their case directly to the president.
Jonathan Lundgren, a South Dakota regenerative farmer and former Department of Agriculture scientist, said the group initially believed they were attending only for a photo opportunity but quickly realized they needed to persuade Trump to approve the order. Indiana farmer Rick Clark described the discussion as passionate but said Trump seemed focused on hearing every perspective before making his final decision.
Despite the opposition, Trump ultimately signed the executive order. White House officials said the decision reflects the president’s commitment to supporting both the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement and American farmers.
