Brooke Rollins. Photo: Andrew Kelly / SCANOIX / Reuters
US President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) think tank, as Secretary of Agriculture. This announcement was the final step in the formation of the new Trump government, France Presse reports.
Rollins’ experience and priorities
Brooke Rollins, 52, a lawyer by profession, previously served as director of the White House Domestic Policy Council in the final year of Donald Trump’s first term. In 2021, she founded AFPI with key Trump allies such as Larry Kudlow and Linda McMahon.
According to Trump, Rollins has an “exceptional commitment to American farmers, U.S. food sovereignty, and the revitalisation of small towns dependent on agriculture”.
“It will protect our farmers, who are the true backbone of our country,” Trump said in a press release.
Responsibilities and challenges
As Secretary of Agriculture, Rollins will be responsible for managing agricultural and food programmes, food research, trade, food safety, animal welfare and plant health.
Her approach may be criticised in the context of another key member of the Trump administration, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the likely HHS secretary, who is seeking to reduce the use of chemicals and ultra-processed foods in the American diet.
Trump’s political team
Rollins was considered as a possible White House chief of staff, but this position was taken by Susie Wiles, who also has significant influence in Trump’s inner circle.
Trump’s new cabinet reflects his strategy of rewarding allies who have remained loyal to him during the numerous investigations and lawsuits of recent years. The formation of the government allows Trump to proceed with the distribution of more than 4,000 administrative positions in the federal apparatus, which are renewed with the arrival of the new administration.
Background: Brooke Rollins is a traditional conservative known for her support of the “America First” policy and active participation in shaping strategies for the development of the US agricultural sector.
