President Trump on Wednesday defended his tariff policies and called on American cattle ranchers to reduce their prices, amid controversy over his plan to import beef from Argentina.
“The Cattle Ranchers, who I love, don’t understand that the only reason they are doing so well, for the first time in decades, is because I put Tariffs on cattle coming into the United States, including a 50% Tariff on Brazil,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“If it weren’t for me, they would be doing just as they’ve done for the past 20 years — Terrible!”
He added: “It would be nice if they would understand that, but they also have to get their prices down, because the consumer is a very big factor in my thinking, also!”
🇺🇸President Donald Trump said American cattle ranchers owe much of their success to the tariffs he imposed on imported cattle, including a 50% tariff on Brazil.
He added that ranchers “must get their prices down” because “the consumer is a very big factor” in his thinking. pic.twitter.com/Wuq12s3rVf
— LoudFact (@loudfactcom) October 22, 2025
Republican Senators Raise Concerns Over Argentine Beef Imports
Trump’s tariffs have primarily targeted beef imports from Brazil to protect domestic ranchers. However, his push to bring in Argentine beef has raised concerns among Republican lawmakers.
“Nebraska’s ranchers cannot afford to have the rug pulled out from under them when they’re just getting ahead or simply breaking even,” said Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.).
“I strongly encourage the Trump administration to focus on trade deals that benefit our [agricultural] producers, not imports that will do more harm than good.”
$3 Billion Aid Announced for Farmers
In related agricultural news, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced over $3 billion in aid for farmers affected by the ongoing trade dispute with China. The trade tensions have halted purchases of American products such as soybeans, creating financial pressure on the farming community.
