President Donald Trump, facing criticism from beef producers and ag-state Republicans on his proposal to purchase beef from Argentina, boasted Wednesday about his record for America's ranchers.
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"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 posted on Truth Social, his social media site. "If it weren't for me, they would be doing just as they've done for the past 20 years — Terrible!"
Trump added that "it would be nice if they would understand that" but acknowledged that ranchers have to get the price of beef down.
The White House has been mulling a plan to buy Argentine beef as a way to lower costs for U.S. consumers, but that's been met with fierce resistance from ranchers and Senate Republicans who are otherwise allies of the administration.