After meeting President-elect Donald Trump, Gov. Terry Branstad of Iowa, a leading farm state, was noncommittal about taking a role in the incoming Republican administration. Branstad has been mentioned as potential U.S. ambassador to China and Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Des Moines on Thursday as part of his “thank you” to voters tour.
“He (Trump) is putting together a great cabinet that will serve the American people well,” Branstad said in a statement. “While there has been speculation regarding an appointment to service in this administration, I have no announcement at this time.”
Trump created some of the ambassadorial buzz for Branstad in a pre-election rally in Sioux City, saying “you would be our prime candidate to take care of China. Immediately after the election, Branstad played down the idea of becoming U.S. ambassador and also ruled out becoming agriculture secretary, reported WHO-TV in Des Moines.
China is the largest market for U.S. farm exports. Trump has said he would label China as a currency manipulator when he takes office and impose tariffs as high as 45 percent on Chinese-made goods.
Former deputy agriculture secretary Chuck Conner told an agricultural conference, “We’re not expecting to have enormous resources in the next farm bill” but it would be an opportunity for Trump to acknowledge the key role that rural America played in his election, said DTN. It quoted Conner as saying there was the opportunity for a “blockbuster” farm bill.
“Conner said it might be possible to take some funds from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which takes up the lion’s share of funding at USDA, to pay for farmer programs,” said DTN.
The comments on cuts in the food stamp program are somewhat at odds with attempts by farm and anti-hunger groups to stand united against attacks on their programs.
To read Branstad’s statement, click here.