In less than a week after his inauguration, President Donald Trump has already signed executive orders by the dozens, quickly changing national policies in a multitude of areas. Even Washington reporter Jim Weisemeyer, who has been covering national ag politics for 50 years, is amazed by the new president’s productivity.
“Bill Clinton did a lot in his early years, but nothing close to this,” Jim says on the latest episode of the Unscripted podcast. Hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths, like journalists throughout the country, have been hustling this week to keep up with what Griffiths calls “the velocity of news.” On the podcast, they all pause to discuss what these changes could mean to the world of agriculture.
While the president’s threats of setting high tariffs even on our largest trade partners might be just a negotiation tool, it’s too soon to tell what will happen, says Weisemeyer. Though Trump received many votes from rural America, he’s not easy to predict. “There will be times when the ag sector won’t like what he’s done,” Weisemeyer says, noting that high tariffs and planned deportations could create trade and labor challenges for the ag sector. However, despite the flurry of policy changes in the first few days, much still needs to be settled.
Weisemeyer does feel confident about the confirmation of Brooke Rollins for the Secretary of Agriculture, another news item he covered this week. At her confirmation hearing, he says, “She was impressive. She said the right things at the right time. She’s a very professional, procedural person.” Despite lacking extensive experience in agriculture, she has the president’s ear and his trust, Weisemeyer says, adding, “And agriculture needs that.”
He’s less confident about the confirmation of Robert Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services, though he remains optimistic. “It’s just a guess but I think he’ll be approved,” Weisemeyer says. “I think he’ll get some Democratic votes.”
As for the Washington rumor mill, he’s hearing talk about organizational changes at USDA. “They’ve been reorganized more than my diet,” he says. He’s even heard talk about the organization’s headquarters moving out of Washington in the not too distant future, but while nothing has been decided yet, he notes, “I don’t think we’ve heard the last of that.”
Given his hectic week, Weisemeyer did not attend the Bipartisan Inaugural Ball: Celebrating American Agriculture, held on the night of presidential inaugurations. Commonly known as the “Farm Prom,” it’s a formal affair, requiring a tuxedo that he didn’t want to wear. Morgan, however, says she would have loved to attend and wondered why Weisemeyer didn’t get an invitation for her.
Watch the full episode of Unscripted
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