The IDFA Dairy Forum kicked off on Jan. 26 with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy calling Donald Trump's return to the White House as "one of the greatest comebacks you will ever see."

During the opening night session, titled "Understanding Washington's New Agenda," McCarthy, a California Republican, revealed he had spoken to Trump during the prior day and often speaks to the president. 

When asked by IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes how Trump achieved the presidential victory, McCarthy stated Kamala Harris would not have been the presidential candidate if circumstances were normal, her vice presidential selection was wrong, and that any candidate must provide voters with the top three things they will do when they get to office, which he stated Harris failed to do. 

McCarthy for now, will remain an outside advisor to help in a "different way." When asked for his political predictions, McCarthy expects the Democrats to take back control of the U.S. House of Representatives in two years and believes either Michigan Gov. Gretchen Witmer or Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to be the Democratic candidate for president in 2028.

Shifting to the current Trump Administration, McCarthy said to expect "a little different Trump" this compared to his first time in office. "He is always trying to set the stage for a better deal," he said, adding Trump works 24/7 to achieve his goals.

Regarding topics closer to dairy, McCarthy stressed the Farm Bill is one of the hardest to pass, because it requires bipartisan support and that politicians have wanted "many amendments." He did predict the Farm Bill gets passed late in 2025.

The Former Speaker of the House also expected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be confirmed as director Health and Human Services. Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" proposition is something the "dairy industry should embrace," McCarthy concluded.