White House moves meant to address beef prices found cattle ranchers at odds with the administration, asserting a break with the America First agenda.
(Video Credit: MS NOW)
Late last week, President Donald Trump made an announcement that not only surprised consumers but caught ranchers off guard as well. While certain specifics have remained scarce, United States Cattlemen’s Association President Justin Tupper reacted to the planned import of 300,000 metric tons of ground beef at a reduced price by suggesting the chief executive’s support had “definitely taken a hit.”
Appearing on MS NOW’s “State of Play with Peter Alexander,” Tupper first spoke to the historic lows in herd sizes the president addressed before turning to the subject of free enterprise, “Bringing in foreign beef that does not have to live up to the same standards or any of the things that we go by here in this country, we don’t think will one of two things — will not bring down the price of beef in the store and it’s not gonna help the ranchers to increase their herds.”
As was reported, some GOP lawmakers also spoke out against Trump’s announcement that he’d struck a deal for up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported and sold 25% below market value under the pretense of affording time to help American herds to grow. Despite the criticism, the president went on to defend the announcement, telling reporters on Friday, “That’s what people want. That’s what the voters want.”
During his remarks on MS NOW, Tupper indicated that prices were up across the board for ranchers and posited the possibility that the chief executive was after a short-term solution to address affordability ahead of the looming midterm elections.
Despite those intentions, when asked about any impact on support from ranchers, Tupper told Alexander, “Well, I definitely think it has taken a hit to that. I think there’s still a lot of support for the president, but I think it’s definitely taken a hit because this does not support the America First agenda, and the American cattle ranchers are very proud people.”
“They work very hard every day to produce something and feed the world, and they just want to have a free and fair market system to do that in. When we throw in some of these outside influences, it just throws a monkey wrench into it,” he added.
The head of the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association also remarked on how the Department of Agriculture had been surprised by Trump’s announcement. On that note, as the president remained tight-lipped on where the beef would be coming from, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins contended that she couldn’t answer the question if she wanted to.”
“I’m not privy to talk about that,” she told NewsNation correspondent Libbey Dean. “I think the conversations are still going on, and that’s [U.S. Trade Representative] Ambassador [Jamieson] Greer who’s finalizing what exactly that looks like, and I think the president’s involved in that as well.”
Today’s Q&A at the White House with Ag secretary Brooke Rollins.
What specific countries have been in talks with the U.S. about stepping up those beef imports, aside from Mexico, which you just detailed?
ROLLINS: I am not privy to talk about that. I think the conversations are… pic.twitter.com/bpkNxng7r1
— Libbey Dean (@LibbeyDean_) August 25, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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