Massie for Secretary of Agriculture? KY Congressman addresses talk of Trump admin role
Fourth Congressional District Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, said Wednesday he’s open to taking a new role in the incoming Donald Trump administration, potentially leading the Department of Agriculture.
“President Trump’s resounding victory secured a mandate for big ideas like reversing chronic disease, conserving our land and empowering American farmers,” Massie said in a statement first released to The Herald-Leader. “His campaign unified 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.”
“I stand ready and willing to help 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 of the transition are premature,” Massie continued.
The speculation over Massie began with Joel Salatin, an iconoclast author and speaker in the farming community who calls himself “The Lunatic Farmer.”
The potential development spread quickly on X, the social media website owned by Trump ally Elon Musk.
In a blog post, Salatin wrote that he’s been contacted by the Trump transition team for an advisor role in the United States Department of Agriculture and that Massie will be the secretary.
“I’ve been contacted by the Trump transition team to hold some sort of position within the USDA and have accepted one of the six ‘Advisor to the Secretary’ spots. My favorite congressman, Thomas Massie from Kentucky, has agreed to go in as Secretary of Agriculture,” Salatin wrote Wednesday.
On Thursday, Salatin sang a more similar tune to Massie, adding that “discussions and negotiations” were, indeed, happening.
“Right now, there’s no story. There are just discussions and negotiations going on, and I’ve been asked to remain quiet about anything until there are green lights. There’s no confirmation and everything’s fluid,” Salatin told the Herald-Leader.
Massie, who has become friendly with Robert Kennedy Jr. during the campaign, has had an topsy-turvy relationship with President-elect Trump, only endorsing him late in the 2024 campaign.
But Kennedy’s closesness with Massie have revived the relationship in recent weeks, leading to the possibility that the northern Kentucky congressman could enter the new administration next year.
One factor to keep in mind is the balance of the U.S. House of Representatives. With around 50 races not yet called as of Wednesday evening, neither Republicans nor Democrats have a claim to the majority. If either side’s majority is slim enough, Massie’s departure from the 435-member chamber could have serious implications on the balance of power there.
If Massie were to leave, his replacement would be decided by special election, according to state statute. Who the nominees are for each party would be decided by local county parties in the district.
The Fourth Congressional District spans all of the Northern Kentucky region as well as a portion of Eastern Kentucky and a few counties in the Greater Louisville Area. Republican candidates have won it handily for the last 20 years.
This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 3:17 PM.
