Sunday, 24 November 2024

President Trump Officially Announces Nomination For Agriculture Secretary


President Trump on Saturday announced his nomination for agriculture secretary.

Trump selected America First Policy Institute President and CEO Brooke Rollins.

“Brooke was on my 2016 Economic Advisory Council, and did an incredible job during my First Term as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, Director of the Office of American Innovation, and Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives. In these roles, she helped develop and manage the transformational Domestic Policy Agenda of my Administration. Brooke has spent the past four years as the Founder and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and America First Works (AFW), building a team of loyal Patriots, and championing the Policies of our America First Agenda,” Trump said.

“Brooke’s commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none. A proud Graduate of Texas A&M University, Brooke earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture Development, and J.D., with Honors. From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels,” he added.

A closer look:

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Fox News reports:

Rollins, who grew up on a farm in Glen Rose, Texas, was a surprise pick for the position. Former Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., who met with the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago on Friday afternoon, was rumored to fill the position prior to the official Trump announcement on Saturday.

Rollins was previously rumored to be on the short-list for Trump’s pick of chief of staff – which ultimately was given to longtime ally Susie Wiles.

Rollins served as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration.

Since her time in the Trump White House, Rollins co-founded the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute think tank.

“Thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to serve as the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities. This is big stuff for a small-town ag girl from Glen Rose, TX — truly the American Dream at its greatest,” Rollins said.

Per CNN:

In Trump’s first term, Rollins served as White House Domestic Policy Council director. Before that, she was president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, for 15 years.

CNN reported Friday that Trump was poised to offer the post to businesswoman and former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who met with the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago on Friday afternoon. There had been several discussions between Loeffler and the transition team regarding the position. But Trump held off from announcing his Agriculture pick as he issued a slew of others Friday night, raising questions about whether Loeffler was ultimately offered the post.

The Department of Agriculture consists of 29 agencies and offices and has nearly 100,000 employees. In addition to agriculture, its areas of focus are natural resources, rural development and nutrition.

The job will likely be a significant one — especially as Trump’s pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has promised to assert his influence over the agriculture industry.


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