A video clip of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has resurfaced after the White House issued an order to maintain “adequate” supplies of glyphosate-based herbicides, a substance the secretary has previously linked to cancer.
The clip comes from Kennedy Jr.’s January interview on the Katie Miller Podcast, where he stated plainly: “I believe glyphosate causes cancer.” Social media users also highlighted an old post from June 2024, in which he wrote:
"The herbicide glyphosate is one of the likely culprits in America’s chronic disease epidemic. Much more widely used here than in Europe. Shockingly, much of our exposure comes from its use as a desiccant on wheat, not as an herbicide. From there it goes straight into our bodies. My USDA will ban that practice."
When asked for comment on Friday, HHS referred Newsweek to a statement from Kennedy Jr., saying:
"Donald Trump's Executive Order puts America first where it matters most our defense readiness and our food supply. We must safeguard America's national security first because all of our priorities depend on it. By expanding domestic production, we close that gap and protect American families."
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto‑Bayer’s Roundup, has been at the center of a long-running health debate in the U.S. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified it as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has consistently maintained that it is unlikely to cause cancer when used as directed. This divide has fueled public concern and thousands of lawsuits from plaintiffs who argue that long-term exposure caused cancers like non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Kennedy Jr. has been a prominent critic of glyphosate, linking it to chronic disease and children’s exposure through food, water, and the environment as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda. Critics, however, have accused him of overstating the science.
On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) to ensure sufficient domestic supplies of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides. Trump cited national security concerns, emphasizing phosphorus’s role in defense and warning that restrictions on glyphosate could jeopardize agricultural productivity, causing economic losses and threatening the ability to meet food demand.
The order has drawn mixed reactions. Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie announced plans for a “No Immunity for Glyphosate Act” to counter Trump’s directive, claiming it shields manufacturers from liability. Meanwhile, other Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee praised the order as “smart policy that protects American farmers’ access to tools to efficiently produce an affordable and abundant food supply,” noting that “food security = national security.”
Critics from Kennedy Jr.’s own MAHA movement have also voiced concern. Lawrence Gostin, director of Georgetown University’s O’Neil Institute for National and Global Health Law, said Kennedy Jr. appears to be abandoning his core values to support Trump, calling it a “betrayal of the MAHA movement.” Health activist Vani Hari, founder of Food Babe & Truvani, called the order “a grenade for MAHA,” while fellow activist Kelly Ryerson, known online as “Glyphosate Girl,” warned that the executive order undermines the movement’s focus on reducing exposure to this carcinogenic herbicide.
The Democratic National Committee and figures like DNC Chair Ken Martin have also highlighted the apparent contradiction between Kennedy Jr.’s past statements and his response to Trump’s order.
Experts, including Stephanie Eick of Emory University, advise that while policy-level changes continue, individuals can take steps to limit glyphosate exposure, such as choosing organic products when possible and washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
What is the Defense Production Act?
The Defense Production Act, enacted in 1950 during the Korean War, allows the president to direct private industry to produce and prioritize goods deemed essential to national defense. While originally focused on military needs, the DPA now includes public health emergencies, disaster response, energy security, and critical supply chains. Notable uses include boosting production of ventilators and masks during the COVID‑19 pandemic and supporting the U.S. food supply during shortages.
In Kennedy Jr.’s case, the resurfacing of his past statements highlights the tension between his long-standing public health concerns about glyphosate and his support for the executive order, sparking debate over how national security and public health priorities intersect.
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