Despite sharing a fondness for steak—Trump famously preferring his well done—the leadership of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, believes it has finally found an ally in the Trump administration.
According to Politico, PETA has aligned itself with the current White House largely because of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s opposition to animal testing. The partnership represents "another example of how Kennedy, who was a Democrat on the left of his party until he teamed with President Donald Trump, has shaken up traditional political allegiances."
Kennedy's embrace of the animal rights organization prompted PETA senior vice president Kathy Guillermo to gush: "It's night and day compared to previous administrations, both Republican and Democrat."
PETA has long campaigned for the Department of Health and Human Services to close primate laboratories funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health that house thousands of monkeys used in medical research. Previous health secretaries largely ignored those requests, but Kennedy and his deputies have embraced the cause, arguing that transitioning to more advanced testing methods will accelerate scientific discoveries and reduce costs.
Marty Irby, president and CEO of Capitol South lobbying firm and longtime animal welfare advocate, praised the surprising alliance, explaining, "Sometimes you have to weigh your options and really look at what's the greater good and not shoot yourself in the foot — which I think PETA is smart for doing."
Kennedy's initiatives have generated enthusiasm among PETA's leadership. The organization sent NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya flowers after the agency announced efforts to reduce animal testing.
However, PETA has adopted a more measured approach to other Trump administration policies affecting animals, including wildlife protections and food policy. While the organization promotes veganism and opposes animal abuse in agriculture, PETA declined to comment extensively on new meat-forward dietary guidelines. Guillermo stated: "We don't do a lot on food recommendations by agencies."
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