“If Derrick Van Orden actually cared about our farmers, he would stop rubber-stamping tariff taxes and an illegal war with Iran that is sending gas and fertilizer costs through the roof. Instead of fighting for relief, D.C. Derrick is parading around a roadkill-eating conspiracy theorist while our farmers pay the price.” 

MADISON, Wis. — Today Derrick Van Orden campaigned with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in an attempt to save his re-election campaign and cover-up for scaring Wisconsinites after tweeting “pray for Madison” with no explanation this morning. At the event, Van Orden celebrated the Trump administration despite the illegal war with Iran and GOP tariff taxes making life more expensive for rural Wisconsinites.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: RFK Jr. visits Wisconsin dairy farm with Rep. Derrick Van Orden
By: Laura Schulte | 6/1/26 

The 3rd Congressional District has felt the effects of strains in the rural health care industry. Clinics and hospitals have closed in recent years, leaving gaps in care for many communities.

Kennedy said under Medicaid, the Trump administration is planning to boost $20 billion going to rural health care facilities with another $10 billion infusion.

But it is unlikely those infusions will entirely offset cuts to Medicaid in rural areas as part of the tax and spending legislation as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

KFF, a health policy research organization, has said the temporary fund could offset about a third of the estimated cuts to federal Medicaid spending in rural areas.

[…] 

Democrats pushed back on Kennedy and Van Orden’s event, saying that much more could be done to help farmers and constituents who are struggling.

“If Derrick Van Orden actually cared about our farmers, he would stop rubber-stamping tariff taxes and an illegal war with Iran that is sending gas and fertilizer costs through the roof,” said Haley King, deputy press secretary for the Wisconsin Democrats.

“Instead of fighting for relief, D.C. Derrick is parading around a roadkill-eating conspiracy theorist while our farmers pay the price.”

[…]

The morning of June 1, Van Orden posted on X, calling for prayers for Madison.

“We are waiting on more information,” he then said in the post.

When asked at the event what the tweet was in reference to, Van Orden didn’t respond to reporters. When he was told that people were concerned about what the post meant, he laughed.

“Well, that’s good. You know what, Madison always needs prayers,” he said.