A group of American farmers entered the Oval Office on 25/6, expecting to smile for cameras as President Donald Trump signed an executive order promoting regenerative agriculture. This farming method is seen as an alternative to pesticides, a solution these farmers are pursuing.

However, contrary to expectations, they found themselves embroiled in a heated argument because President Trump had also invited representatives of the opposing faction to witness the signing.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order in the Oval Office on 22/6. Photo: AFP

U.S. media reported that the pro-regenerative agriculture faction included Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his advisors, and farmers practicing this model. Kennedy is also the founder of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which aims to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases in children and adults.

Opposing them was Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), an organization with over 5 million farmer and rancher members.

The signing ceremony occurred shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in a lawsuit filed by John Durnell, a gardener from Missouri, against the biopharmaceutical company Bayer. Durnell stated he contracted lymphoma after more than 20 years of using an herbicide containing glyphosate and claimed the manufacturer had not adequately warned about the product's risks.

A Missouri state court had previously ruled in Durnell's favor, awarding him 1,25 million USD in damages. The Supreme Court overturned that ruling, stating that if federal law does not require cancer risk warnings on products, states cannot hold Bayer liable on this basis.

The ruling was seen as a victory for Bayer and the pesticide industry, but a major blow to the MAHA movement. Axios, citing sources, described Kennedy entering the meeting in a state of deep concern, telling President Trump that the ruling was a significant setback for efforts to reduce pesticide reliance.

According to Kennedy, the executive order on regenerative agriculture would partially offset the ruling's impact by requiring federal agencies to promote alternatives to conventional pesticides and research their health effects.

Johnathan Lundgren, a farmer from South Dakota, said he tried to convince President Trump that "farmers are getting sick, and America is killing its own farmers with its current food production methods."

Many other farmers at the meeting agreed, arguing that regenerative agriculture could improve soil quality and reduce pesticide reliance. They urged the government to promote less chemical-intensive production methods and research alternatives.

Meanwhile, Duvall argued that restricting pesticides would erode public trust in the safety of American food. He also warned that such restrictions risked President Trump losing support from the farming community. The AFBF president also welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling.

The most heated remarks emerged when Duvall and Calley Means, Kennedy's deputy chief of staff, debated the executive order's content and the role of pesticides in modern agriculture. The atmosphere in the Oval Office was described as "tense," a rare occurrence for what is typically a ceremonial signing event.

"The President could have been swayed in any direction, and AFBF did everything to prevent it," Lundgren said. At one point, President Trump turned to his aides and officials in the room, asking what he should do.

President Trump repeatedly questioned Duvall, asking what the AFBF president was opposing. Duvall replied that he had not read the entire executive order, according to three farmers present at the event. The President then stated he did not think the executive order posed a risk to farmers.

After being urged by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who held a pro-pesticide stance, the White House occupant decided to sign the executive order, concluding over an hour of debate among the parties. The AFBF president also declared his support for the President's decision and later attended a dinner with officials at the White House Rose Garden.

"I have never witnessed a policymaking process in such close proximity, and it was truly surprising," shared Will Harris, a farmer from Georgia.

U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 21/5. Photo: AFP

President Trump's decision to allow direct debate among the parties in front of him reflects his familiar governing style. Instead of resolving disagreements beforehand through administrative channels, he often listened to multiple opposing viewpoints before making last-minute decisions. While this approach allowed him to maintain his role as the ultimate decision-maker, it made the policymaking process unpredictable.

"The President likes to see people awkward or put on the spot a little bit. Those who handle the situation well are recognized. And those who don't? Just ask Kristi Noem," a source told Politico, referring to the former homeland security secretary who lost her position in March.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai stated that President Trump "listened to various opinions from experts across many fields to inform his decision-making process."

"The President is committed to doing what is best for MAHA, for farmers, and for the American people. The signing of this executive order reflects that commitment," Desai said.

Rick Clark, a farmer from Indiana who attended the Oval Office meeting, described it as a tense policy debate among those who would be most directly affected by the executive order. The purpose of the exchange was to provide the President with complete information before he made a decision.

"In my opinion, President Trump simply wanted to ensure he had heard all perspectives and was fully informed before signing that document," Clark said. "Was the atmosphere in the room tense? Yes. Did people debate fiercely? Yes, and everyone was passionate about their views."

Nhu Tam (According to Politico, Axios, Daily Beast)