As families across the U.S. struggle with rising grocery bills, President Donald Trump is stepping up to offer relief for the nation’s farmers.
On Monday, Trump plans to announce a $12 billion taxpayer-funded aid package aimed at stabilizing the farm belt, which has been hit hard by trade disputes and inflation.
The president will reveal the plan during a roundtable with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, lawmakers, and farmers themselves.
The initiative is designed to shore up support in rural areas, particularly in states that have been loyal to Trump politically but are now facing mounting financial strain.
Farmers in the Crosshairs of Trade Wars
Many farmers, especially in Republican strongholds, have been caught in the crossfire of Trump’s trade policies.
China, the world’s largest buyer of U.S. soybeans, saw imports slashed to zero earlier this year during trade tensions before a deal was reached in October.
With 29 million metric tons of soybeans typically heading to China to feed its massive pork industry, American farmers faced sudden and severe losses.
“These prices haven’t come in, because the Chinese actually used our soybean farmers as pawns in the trade negotiations,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday, reflecting the White House’s anxiety over the economic fallout.
Relief Plan Targets Trade Disruptions and Inflation
The White House frames the new $12 billion package as a response to trade disruptions, inflation, and other market challenges.
After Trump’s October meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, China committed to purchasing at least 12 million metric tons of soybeans by the end of the year, plus 25 million metric tons annually for the following three years.
Since the announcement, China has bought over 2.8 million metric tons of soybeans—roughly a quarter of the total pledged—but officials remain optimistic that the goal will be met by February.
During Trump’s first presidency, similar aid programs were introduced, including more than $22 billion in 2019 and nearly $46 billion in 2020, the latter also addressing COVID-19-related agricultural losses.
Beef Prices Add to Economic Pressure
Farmers aren’t the only ones feeling the pinch. Beef prices have surged due to high demand, droughts reducing U.S. herds, and decreased imports from Mexico caused by a parasite outbreak.
In response, Trump has proposed importing more beef from Argentina and has pushed the Department of Justice to investigate foreign-owned meat packers for alleged price manipulation, although evidence for such claims has not been presented.
On Saturday, Trump signed an executive order directing the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to examine “anti-competitive behavior” across food supply chains, including seeds, fertilizers, and farm equipment.
The move could lead to new enforcement actions or regulations designed to protect American farmers and consumers.
Political Stakes Behind the Aid
Trump’s economic approval hovers around the mid-40 percent range, and the administration is acutely aware of voter sentiment in key Republican areas.
The $12 billion aid package is seen as a strategic measure to prevent a backlash in the 2026 elections, where concerns over inflation, stagnant wages, and food prices could influence rural voters’ support.
With economic pressures mounting and political stakes high, the coming weeks will test whether this new farm relief can stabilize the sector and shore up confidence in Trump’s leadership among his rural base.
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