President Donald Trump hears the concerns of cattle ranchers who say his decision to buy beef from Argentina is bad for business, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
“The president loves our ranchers, and our ranchers love our president, and in fact, the president did a lot for them in his first term,” Leavitt said in response to a question from The Daily Signal. “Here they are struggling because of the many horrible policies of the previous administration.”
“The president loves our ranchers,” she repeated, “and he also loves American consumers, and he wants to do right by both.”
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that he is considering having the United States buy beef from Argentina.
“We would buy some beef from Argentina,†he said. “If we do that, that will bring our beef prices down.â€
American ranchers, including the largest trade group representing cattle ranchers, have expressed opposition to Trump’s plan.
“Cattlemen and women cannot stand behind President Trump while he undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers by importing Argentinian beef,†the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association wrote on X on Wednesday.
Trump’s short-term solution is to import Argentinian beef to increase our supply and lower costs, Leavitt said.
“The immediate solution to the problem of the rising cost of beef—the president wants to bring that down—is we have to increase our supply,” she said. “So that’s what he’s doing with respect to these imports. The president also is looking out for our ranchers with a long-term plan that was released by the secretary of agriculture yesterday.”
She laid out the Agriculture Department’s three-step plan to accomplish both goals.
“No. 1, strengthening U.S. cattle production through increased grazing access, endangered species reforms, enhanced disaster relief, increased access to capital, and reducing costs for new and young ranchers,” she said.
“We want to incentivize more Americans to get into this noble profession, lowering long-term costs by cutting inspection costs, increasing market options for consumers with Product of USA labeling and ensuring consumers know that they are eating American beef,” she said.
Leavitt said this is a good incentive for the American consumer.
“And lastly, growing the domestic herd while boosting long-term demand to reduce prices for consumers, while growing the markets for our ranchers,” she said.
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