Indiana farmer Kip Tom is one of several names being floated as possible Secretary of Agriculture in the new Trump Administration. Tom runs a successful international farming operation and served as Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture during President Trump’s previous term.

“When I think about President Trump and comparing 45 to 47, my perception is he’s a lot more prepared this time to lead our nation, to make sure he is able to expedite the employment of good personnel around him and I think he’s working hard to make sure that day one that they’re going to be leading and making sure that he can deliver on the promises he made to our nation,” said Tom in an interview Thursday. “I would tell you I would be honored if asked to serve and I would serve at the pleasure of the President in any role that he would offer to me at that time, but right now I’m a farmer and I just want to help represent agriculture.”

Tom has served as co-chair of Farmers and Ranchers for Trump 47 and he believes the rural vote made the difference in the election. “I think it was a mandate on Tuesday. You look at how Americans voted and especially rural America, nearly 75% of rural America, agriculture and ranchers voted for Donald Trump. That was asking for a change,” said Tom.

In this interview, Tom talks about his reaction to the Trump victory, what he sees as priorities for the new administration in farm and energy policy, his thoughts on RFK Jr.’s potential influence in farm policy, and what kind of role he personally would like to play on the new Trump team. In addition, he gives his reflections on what it was like to be in Butler, Pennsylvania the day President Trump was nearly assassinated.