U.S. Cattlemen’s Association President Says Trump’s Reputation With Ranchers Has ‘Taken a Hit’

Justin Tupper, the president of the United States Cattlemen’s Association, said Tuesday on MS NOW that President Donald Trump’s reputation among ranchers has “taken a hit” after he announced eased tariffs on certain beef imports.

The president’s announcement came on Friday in a Truth Social post, in which he promised to “reduce prices for Americans.” Under the plan, the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef intended for ground beef production to enter the country without an out-of-quota tariff over the next 90 days.

Trump doubled down on the move later on Friday, telling reporters, “That’s what people want. That’s what the voters want.”

Yet along with Tupper, whose initial statement on the matter read, “You don’t put America first by putting U.S. cattle producers last,” plenty of Republican lawmakers have taken to social media to express their disagreement with the president, including Sens. Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Steve Daines (R-MT) and Reps. Mike Flood (R-NE), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), and Troy Downing (R-MT).

Appearing on Tuesday’s edition of MS NOW’s State of Play with Peter Alexander, Tupper told anchor Peter Alexander, “Bringing in foreign beef that does not have to live up to the same standards or any of the things that we go by here in this country, we don’t think will one of two things — will not bring down the price of beef in the store and it’s not gonna help the ranchers to increase their herds.”

Noting that under Trump, “every input the American rancher has is higher,” Tupper cited “high” inflation, gas prices, and “out of this world” insurance rates.

When asked if the plan has impacted support for the president among members of his community, Tupper responded:

Well, I definitely think it has taken a hit to that. There’s still a lot of support for the president, but I think it’s definitely taken a hit because this does not support the “America First” agenda, and the American cattle ranchers are very proud people. They work very hard every day to produce something and feed the world, and they just want to have a free and fair market system to do that in. When you throw in some of these outside influences, it just throws a monkey wrench into it.

Notably, the president has refused to disclose which countries he’s made the reduced tariffs deal with, telling reporters on Friday, “I don’t wanna say.” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins adhered to that position during a Tuesday press gaggle, responding, “I am not privy to talk about that,” when questioned on the matter.

Watch above via MS NOW.

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