Multiple Republicans from states that rely on farming have finally reached their breaking point with President Donald Trump, according to a new report.
The president casually suggested earlier this month that the U.S. should import beef from Argentina to push down high prices — and dozens of farm-state GOP lawmakers who've held their tongues on Trump policies that hurt their constituents finally had enough, reported Politico.
"GOP lawmakers in cattle-producing states unleashed a flurry of calls over the following days to the White House and Agriculture Department," the website reported. "This could not go on, they argued."
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who's retiring, and a small group of GOP senators met privately with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins shortly after the president's remark to push back on the plan, but the administration intends to move forward with a plan that Trump officials argue will lower meat prices for consumers and improve relations with Argentinian President Javier Milei, a Trump favorite.
"But it has exposed the limits of GOP lawmakers’ tolerance for policies that have especially tested states heavy on agriculture," Politico reported. "Some of the president’s staunchest Hill allies watched for months as Trump’s tariffs devastated farmers. More recently, they begged his deputies to reopen key farm offices during the shutdown. Then came the beef announcement, with one GOP senator granted anonymity to speak candidly calling it 'a betrayal of America First principles.'"
The Argentina plan has set off a minor revolt in the House, as well, with Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-MO), Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), and Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), along with 11 other House Republicans, warning against the beef importation, according to a letter sent Tuesday to Rollins and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that was obtained by Politico.
“We believe strongly that the path to lower prices and stronger competition lies in continued investment at home … rather than policies that advantage foreign competitors,” the GOP lawmakers wrote.
The Senate has voted this week to roll back some of the president's global tariffs, although House Republicans have said they won't join the efforts, but farm-state lawmakers are increasingly frustrated by the effects of his trade wars on their states.
“Emergencies are like war, famine [and] tornadoes,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a vocal critic of Trump's tariffs. “Not liking someone’s tariffs is not an emergency. It’s an abuse of the emergency power and it’s Congress abdicating their traditional role in taxes.”
Paul and some others are convinced the U.S. Supreme Court will strike down at least some of Trump's tariffs, but the Argentinian beef comments – and Trump's subsequent post on Truth Social complaining about ranchers being angry – drove Republican lawmakers to sound off to Vice President JD Vance in a closed door lunch Tuesday on Capitol Hill.
“There was almost universal concern,” said one GOP senator, who said Vance heard an earful from senator after senator.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), a Trump loyalist whose family raises cattle, blamed the meatpacking industry for higher consumer prices.
"Ranchers are not the problem," she told the vice president.