'Why would he do this to us?': One crucial Trump decision is hurting his base, Republicans warn

Trump’s Ground‑Beef Import Order Draws Republican Pushback in Key Midterm States

A week after President Donald Trump signed a tariff‑relief order that will flood supermarkets with 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef, Republican lawmakers from the nation’s beef‑heavy states are warning that the move is hurting the very voters who helped him win a second term. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, the policy has become a flashpoint for the party’s “Made‑in‑America” message.

The order, announced last Monday, allows U.S. companies to import ground beef from abroad and sell it at 25 % below the domestic market price for a 90‑day period. Trump said the temporary influx is meant to lower grocery bills for consumers and give American ranchers time to rebuild their herds, which have been eroded by drought and invasive pests, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

Reactions from South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas

Sen. Mike Rounds (R‑S.D.), who is campaigning for re‑election, said South Dakota voters “love the president” and see him as part of the family, but feel “pulled the rug right out from underneath” them. “They’re hurt. I mean, they feel like they’ve been let down,” Rounds told Fox News Digital. “Why would he do this to us? Doesn’t he understand ag?”

Rounds is not alone. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R‑S.D.) praised Trump’s intent to lower beef prices, but warned that the order was “not the way to do it.” “We have a lot of beef producers here in South Dakota; they produce the highest‑quality beef in the world,” Thune said. “We’re trying to build our herds back up.”

In Nebraska, Representative Zach Nunn (R‑Iowa) echoed those concerns. “This is not just a one‑year issue on the affordability of beef,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure that we’ve got a Made‑in‑America‑first beef program. That means standing with our cattlemen on that.” Nunn said he would raise the issue again at a dinner with Trump at the White House on Wednesday night.

Rep. Troy Downing (R‑Mont.) raised a practical concern: the 90‑day period overlaps with the time of year that ranchers bring cattle to market. “If a rancher is expecting to get a price at market that suddenly drops out from underneath them, they’re faced with two things—do I invest in heifers for next year, or do I have to sell more calves to make up for that deficit for my operating costs?” Downing told Fox News Digital. “Which, neither one is helping rebuild the herd.”

House Main Street Caucus Chairman Mike Flood (R‑Neb.) said he opposed a tariff regime that undercuts American ranchers, but added that Trump’s policies are helping “in the big picture.”

Private Meetings with Trade and Agriculture Officials

The concerns were raised in a closed‑door meeting between U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and a group of House Republicans on Wednesday. Sources inside the room said Greer acknowledged ranchers were frustrated, but maintained that the import strategy was temporary and intended to ease high prices in the short term. “We’re not trying to undermine American beef,” Greer told the lawmakers, according to the sources.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said at an event in Iowa on Tuesday that the administration understood ranchers “felt like that was a gut punch.” “We are working to support ranchers, and we are looking for ways to keep our beef industry strong while also lowering prices for consumers,” she said.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended the policy. “President Trump has done more for American agriculture than anyone,” Kelly said. “He’s delivering on his promise to consumers by reducing beef prices while allowing our American beef herd to grow.” She added that the administration would continue to support farmers while driving economic prosperity.

Calls for Alternative Measures

Some Republicans are urging the administration to look beyond imports to rebuild the U.S. herd. Senators Roger Marshall (R‑Kan.) and other lawmakers wrote to Secretary Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Tuesday, asking that Biden‑era rules be lifted to allow more grazing on public and private lands. “The federal government must remain laser‑focused on partnering with the industry and state efforts for ranchers, expanding grazing on public and private lands, and improving protein processing capacity,” the letter said.

The letter also cited the trade war with Canada as a factor that “makes northern‑border‑state GOP lawmakers nervous.” Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger (R‑Tex.) said the meeting was “absolutely outstanding,” with “a tremendous amount of participation and people that were really excited to ask good questions.” He added that there would likely be “quite a few” follow‑up meetings.

The Broader Context

The beef import order comes at a time of rising grocery bills and higher gasoline prices, prompting Republicans to seek new economic narratives for the party’s base. In states where agriculture is a major industry, a sudden shift in the beef market is seen as a threat to jobs and local economies.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported that beef herds have fallen to their lowest levels since the 1950s, a decline attributed to drought and the invasive New World screwworm. Trump’s administration argues that the temporary influx of cheaper beef will give ranchers the breathing room they need to restock herds without suffering losses.

Republican lawmakers, however, warn that the policy could create long‑term uncertainty for ranchers who rely on stable market prices to plan investments in cattle and feed