Massie indicates he is open to an agricultural role in the Trump administration

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) signaled Wednesday that he is “ready and willing” to take on an agriculture role in President-elect Trump’s administration, but he debunked a rumor that he had already taken on a role as Minister of Agriculture.

“President Trump’s resounding victory secured a mandate for big ideas like reducing chronic disease, preserving our lands and empowering American farmers. His campaign united many neglected constituencies, from the Amish who just want to be left alone to grow healthy food, to parents who want more access to nutritious food for their families,” Massaie said in a statement on the social platform X.

“I stand ready and willing to assist the President with any part of his bold agenda to focus on the health and well-being of Americans, but I have received no commitments or offers from President Trump’s team, and any discussion about the transition is premature. Massie said.

His statement comes after Joel Salatin, a self-described “Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist crazy farmer” who runs Polyface Farms in western Virginia, wrote on his blog that Massie would become Secretary of Agriculture in the Trump administration.

“I have been contacted by the Trump transition team to take some position within the USDA and have accepted one of six ‘Advisor to the Secretary’ spots. My favorite Congressman, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, has agreed to become Secretary of Agriculture,” said Salatin.

Massie has a mixed history with the former president. He drew Trump’s ire when he forced lawmakers to return to Washington in March 2020 as he tried to force a recorded vote on a COVID-19 relief bill that Trump wanted to quickly pass. But Trump and Massie have since repaired their relationship and supported each other in their elections.

Massie himself has an off-the-grid home in Kentucky, where he keeps chickens and grows food on his property. Recently, Massie has touted the benefits of raw milk over pasteurized milk, despite warnings from health authorities about the risks of foodborne illness.

Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to an inquiry into Massie’s possible place in the next administration of the former and future president.

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