By his approach in favor of the production of the herbicide glyphosate, Donald Trump has provoked anger and dismay among his supporters of the Make America Healthy Again movement, an important component of his political base.
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On February 18, Mr. Trump signed an executive order calling glyphosate – the active ingredient in Bayer’s Roundup – crucial to the country’s “national security and defense.” But tens of thousands of plaintiffs in lawsuits allege that this herbicide causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and Bayer is seeking legal immunity from these claims.
Mr. Trump’s executive order opens a breach between his administration and the MAHA movement of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who in 2018 was part of a legal team that won a judgment in which Roundup maker Monsanto (which has since sold it to Bayer) was ordered to pay $289 million.
For MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) activists, pesticides are harmful to children; they want to limit its use. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Mr. Kennedy, then an independent, criticized glyphosate for being “one of the likely culprits in the epidemic of chronic diseases” in the country. Since he joined the Republicans allied with agricultural interests favorable to pesticides, we hardly hear from him on this subject.
PHOTO MIKE BLAKE, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Roundup, marketed by the American Monsanto, then bought by the German Bayer, is the subject of several trials in the United States and Europe.
According to the White House, the executive order “is not an endorsement of any product or practice” and is necessary to ensure the United States’ food supply. (The decree also targets elemental phosphorus, used in certain military munitions.)
The Departments of Health and Agriculture are “researching sustainable agricultural practices, including new crop protection tools,” the White House adds. “President Trump is committed to protecting our country and making America healthy and this administration will never compromise on any of those priorities. »
To produce more glyphosate, the Trump administration invokes Defense Production Act – which dates back to the Cold War – which grants the president broad authority over domestic industry.
Supporters in reflection
Depending on its application, the decree could release glyphosate manufacturers from any civil liability, fear some MAHA and environmental activists. Leaders of the MAHA movement are actively supporting Republicans in the midterm elections, but some are reconsidering their involvement.
Zen Honeycutt, a longtime Kennedy supporter and founder of the nonprofit Moms Across America, warns that Trump is alienating his voting base, which includes many mothers who voted Republican for the first time in 2024 and who could turn away from the party.
“Without restricting or banning glyphosate, we will not make America healthy again,” she said.
Asked for this article, Bayer referred to a press release from Monsanto, affirming that the decree responds to the “fundamental need for American farmers to have access to essential crop protection tools produced domestically, such as glyphosate. We will comply with this decree to produce glyphosate and elemental phosphorus.” On February 17, Monsanto offered $7.25 billion – without admission of liability or fault – to settle cancer-related lawsuits.
American and European regulators assess the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate differently. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers it “probably not carcinogenic to humans”. According to the European Chemicals Agency, “classifying glyphosate as carcinogenic is not justified”. But the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as “probably” carcinogenic.
A scientific journal recently retracted a 2000 study that concluded glyphosate was safe, with the authors possibly having help in their work from Monsanto employees.
Pesticides are defended by the industry. According to CropLife America – an association of companies that formulate, manufacture and distribute pesticides – these products contribute to “a reliable, healthy, and affordable food supply” and are rigorously evaluated by the EPA.
Robert Kennedy Jr. facing his contradictions
The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Health initially aroused the suspicion of Republicans in farm states. During hearings before Congress in January 2025, he promised to avoid any policies compromising the economic viability of agriculture and reminded elected officials that his department has no authority over agricultural regulations.
PHOTO J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during hearings on his nomination for Secretary of Health before a Senate committee on Capitol Hill, January 29, 2025
Regarding the executive order, Mr. Kennedy described it as an application of ” America First where it matters most: our military preparedness and our food supply.”
In February, Mr. Kennedy said his department was evaluating alternatives to glyphosate. But “at the moment, if we stop all use of glyphosate, 80% of our farmers will go bankrupt. The question is how to get out of it gradually without bankrupting agriculture.”
Vani Hari, an author, activist and Kennedy ally, said she was “stunned” when she saw the executive order. “We really hoped that this administration would put the people above corporate power, but this action takes us away from that commitment. »
Decree denounced
On X, she blamed the industrial chemistry lobby and urged MAHAs to unite against powerful corporations.
Zach Lahn – a Republican farmer candidate for governor of Iowa who enjoys the support of the group MAHA Action – denounces the president’s executive order: “There is no looming ban or shortage of glyphosate,” he wrote on X. “There are only pending lawsuits against a foreign company that is causing harm to Americans. And now they have immunity. We must cancel (the decree). »
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments this year in a case related to Roundup complaints. If it rules in favor of Bayer, it could shield the company from costly lawsuits over the chemical’s health effects.
This article was published in the Washington Post.
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