Who might Trump pick for secretary of agriculture?

With Election Day in the rearview mirror, President-elect Donald Trump must now choose a new secretary of agriculture. There’s plenty of chatter out there. Here are a few names on the radar to replace Tom Vilsack at USDA.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R- Ky

According to a Wednesday Lexington Harold Leader report, Massie says he’d be willing to take on a role in the Trump administration, including ag secretary. In a statement released to the paper, he says Trump’s win is a “mandate for big ideas” including empowering American farmers.

Rumors of Massie’s appointment began to spread online thanks to Joel Salatin, a popular writer and speaker known as The Lunatic Farmer. In his Nov. 6 blog, Salatin said the Trump team told him Massie would be the ag secretary. Salatin also claims Trump has offered him an advisory role within USDA.

He later walked back his Massie assertion, saying discussions on the cabinet position remain ongoing.

Kip Tom, former U.S. ambassador

Tom is an Indiana famer who runs one of the state’s largest farming operations. During the first Trump administration, he served as U.N. ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture. More recently, Tom led an organization called Farmers and Ranchers for Trump 47.

Sid Miller, Texas agriculture commissioner

Miller is an eighth-generation farmer and rancher and longtime rodeo cowboy who’s served as the Texas agriculture commissioner for nearly a decade. Like a certain president-elect, Miller is known for making bash statements that infuriate opponents and delight his base. In 2023, he penned a piece where he vowed to go on a “Rino hunt” targeting moderate Texas Republicans.

Miller has campaigned with Trump and discussed potential federal appointments with him. As of Thursday, he says he hasn’t spoke to Trump about USDA since the election but expect those conversations to start soon.

Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R- Pa

Thompson is one of the most recognizable Congressional lawmakers in agriculture. Since coming into office in 2008, the Pennsylvania representative has chaired the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation and Energy, and served as vice chair of the House Ag Committee. In 2020, he was named the ranking member of the committee.

Thompson became committee chairman when Republicans took control of the House in 2023. He’s generally well-liked on both sides of the aisle. That would seemingly make him an ideal choice for secretary of agriculture. However, Thompson has not publicly expressed any interest in the job. Insiders expect Trump to look elsewhere.

Part of that calculation could be the House of Representatives where Republicans are clinging to a slim majority. Thompson easily won reelection with more than 70% of the vote on Tuesday. If he were to leave, Pennsylvania would have to call a special election to replace him, leaving a temporary vacancy in the House.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr

Kennedy’s name has been in the news since he dropped out of the president race and endorsed Trump. He made headlines last month when he filmed a video outside USDA headquarters vowing to make big changes when Trump got him “in the building.” That’s led many to speculate he could be Trump’s choice for USDA. 

Those rumors are dying down as Kennedy seems more focused on health issues. However, RFK is expected to hold a role within the administration where me may still play a significant role in U.S. food, environmental and agriculture policy.

Other names to watch

Trump’s victory was due in large part to his success in the Midwest. He could opt to nominate a Midwesterner who is not only familiar with agriculture but could also cement his standing in the region. Potential candidates include South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton or North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.

Trump has also shown a tendency to nominate candidates not currently holding political office. That could include National State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney, who served as a USDA undersecretary during Trump’s first term. Or possibly Zippy Duvall, who’s served as American Farm Bureau Federation president since 2016.