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After greenlighting a $20 billion bailout for Argentina, the Trump administration now says it’s looking into quadrupling the U.S. government’s annual purchase of the country’s beef. The move is designed to help offset rising beef prices in the U.S., but it will likely come at the expense of American cattle farmers.
The proposal has been met with intense criticism from ranchers across the country. In a post on X, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association wrote, “Cattlemen and women cannot stand behind President Trump while he undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers by importing Argentinian beef.”
On Thursday, the co-hosts of “The Weeknight” blasted the president’s plan and said it was at odds with his promise to prioritize America’s interests. “America first? Whatever happened to that concept?” Michael Steele asked.
Symone Sanders Townsend, who grew up in Nebraska, a leading state in beef production, said importing large quantities of beef from Argentina would cause even more damage to an already struggling industry. “If you talk to the Nebraska Farm Bureau, if you talk to any of the ranchers and the farmers, they are very concerned about this move from the president,” she said.
She urged Republican lawmakers, many of whom represent states with large agricultural industries, to “keep up the pressure on the president.”
The former Biden White House official also said it was “notable to underscore” that even if the administration moves forward with the plan, there is no guarantee it will bring down the price of beef in the U.S.
Alicia Menendez agreed with Sanders Townsend’s observation and reminded viewers about another major Trump campaign promise: lowering prices at the grocery store. “It was the central concern for a broad swath of Americans,” Menendez said. “And he promised them, ‘I understand your pain, and when I get in office, it’s going to be the first thing I address.’ He has been focused on everything except the cost of living.”
You can watch Steele, Sanders Townsend and Menendez’s full discussion in the clip at the top of the page.