(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump has responded to cattle ranchers upset by his proposal to import more beef from Argentina to lower record-high beef prices.
Trump defended himself in a social media post on Wednesday, stating: “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.”
“If it weren’t for me, they would be doing just as they’ve done for the past 20 years — Terrible! 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!” he continued.
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“We would buy some beef from Argentina,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday. “If we do that, that will bring our beef prices down.”
After Trump announced his intention to import more beef from Argentina, he faced heavy criticism from U.S. cattle ranchers and experts who question whether the move would actually lower prices for consumers.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America and other farming groups oppose the idea because of its potential to harm ranchers’ business, amid recently profitable years for the industry.
“Ranchers are finally getting prices that are going to make up for some really bad years in the past with the drought, low prices, and high costs. We finally get some good prices. And we start talking about government policy to bring down prices,” Texas A&M livestock economist David Anderson recently told the Associated Press.
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The beef proposal comes as the Trump administration seeks $40 billion in financial aid for Argentina to support Trump’s close ally, President Javier Milei, in addressing his country’s struggling economy.
“Argentina’s fighting for its life, young lady, you don’t know anything about it,” Trump told a reporter on Air Force One Sunday. “They’re fighting for their life. Nothing’s benefiting Argentina.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
