Kennedy defends Trump glyphosate order; MAHA erupts as midterms approach
#Glyphosate#Defense Production Act#MAHA#National Security#Executive Order#Roundup#Midterms#Agricultural Policy
📌 Key Takeaways
Trump invoked Defense Production Act to boost glyphosate production citing national security
Kennedy defended the order despite MAHA's historical opposition to glyphosate
The executive order threatens to fracture Trump's coalition before the 2026 midterms
Environmental groups criticized the move as contradicting MAHA's platform on chemical safety
📖 Full Retelling
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night invoking the Defense Production Act to spur domestic production of glyphosate and elemental phosphorus, citing national security concerns over potential shortages of these critical chemicals. The order, which came one day after Bayer proposed paying $7.25 billion to settle lawsuits claiming Roundup causes cancer, has created significant political tension within Trump's coalition. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who leads the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement that supported Trump in the 2024 election, defended the controversial decision despite the movement's historical opposition to glyphosate, the chemical in Bayer-Monsanto's Roundup. Kennedy argued in a CNBC statement that Trump's order 'puts America first where it matters most — our defense readiness and our food supply,' emphasizing the need to protect against hostile actors controlling critical inputs. However, this stance has sparked outrage among MAHA activists who have long alleged that glyphosate causes cancer, with prominent members like Kelly Ryerson noting the timing is particularly problematic as the movement considers its strategy for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections that could impact the president's congressional support.
🏷️ Themes
National Security, Political Coalitions, Agricultural Policy
Glyphosate (IUPAC name: N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant. It is an organophosphorus compound, specifically a phosphonate, which acts by inhibiting the plant enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP). Glyphosate-based herbicides (GB...
The Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950 (Pub. L. 81–774) is a United States federal law enacted on September 8, 1950, in response to the start of the Korean War. It was part of a broad civil defense and war mobilization effort in the context of the Cold War.
Federal administrative instruction issued by a head of state or government
An executive order is a directive issued by the head of state or government that manages the operations of a nation's federal administration. While the structure and authority of executive orders vary by country, they generally allow leaders to direct government agencies, implement policies, or resp...
National security, or national defence (national defense in American English), is the security and defence of a sovereign state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government. Originally conceived as protection against military attack, national security...
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended President Donald Trump 's executive order spurring the domestic production of the weedkiller glyphosate, as his Make America Healthy Again movement reels from the president's embrace of the chemical they despise. Trump on Wednesday night signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to compel the domestic production of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides. Glyphosate is the chemical in Bayer-Monsanto's Roundup and is the most commonly used weedkiller for a slew of U.S. crops. Trump, in the order, said shortages of both phosphorus and glyphosate would pose a risk to national security. Kennedy backed the president in a statement to CNBC Thursday morning. "Donald Trump's Executive Order puts America first where it matters most — our defense readiness and our food supply," he said. "We must safeguard America's national security first, because all of our priorities depend on it. When hostile actors control critical inputs, they weaken our security. By expanding domestic production, we close that gap and protect American families." But Kennedy's MAHA coalition that supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election hates glyphosate, which has been alleged to cause cancer in myriad lawsuits. Now, the executive order threatens to unravel that coalition ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that could loosen the president's grip on Washington. Read more CNBC politics coverage Dueling PACs take center stage in midterm elections over AI regulation Trump order pushes glyphosate production; Roundup chemical hated by MAHA Sen. Warren tells Fed and Treasury: No bailout for crypto billionaires "Just as the large MAHA base begins to consider what to do at midterms, the President issues an EO to expand domestic glyphosate production," Kelly Ryerson, a prominent MAHA activist known as Glyphosate Girl, said in a post on X . "The very same carcinogenic pesticide that MAHA cares about most....
