President Trump signed the executive order entitled “Ensuring Affordable Beef for the American Consumer” on Friday. The EO states that U.S. beef production capacity has failed to keep pace with increasing demand, which has lead to higher prices at grocery stores. (According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the price of beef hit a record $6.69 per pound in December.)
In the EO, Trump determined that “it is appropriate to allocate all of the increased in-quota quantity of beef, as established by this proclamation, to Argentina.”
Note: In October, when the Trump administration first revealed that it was planning to allow the importing of more beef from Argentina, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said it “cannot stand behind the President while he undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers by importing Argentinian beef in an attempt to influence prices.”
When American consumers complained of high beef prices at the grocery store, Trump told U.S. cattle ranchers to “get their prices down.” The President wrote on social media: “The Cattle Ranchers, who I love, don’t understand that the only reason they are doing so well, for the first time in decades, is because I put Tariffs on cattle coming into the United States.” He added, “If it weren’t for me, they would be doing just as they’ve done for the past 20 years — Terrible! It would be nice if they would understand that.”
Republican U.S. Representative Don Bacon, who represents Nebraska — a.k.a. “The Beef State,” the nation’s top beef exporter — slammed Trump for his new deal with Argentina, and wrote: “America’s ranchers are NOT saying thank you.”
America’s ranchers are NOT saying thank you. https://t.co/9Xa5KxiNku
— Rep. Don Bacon
(@RepDonBacon) February 9, 2026
U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) — who is considered an economic populist (she opposes free trade agreements, and like President Trump she strongly opposed NAFTA) — also criticized Trump’s decision.
This is a slap in the face to NW Ohio cattlemen struggling to make a living. After giving $40 Billion to bailout Argentina before bailing out American farmers impacted by his trade wars, now we are helping Argentina again? This Administration is selling out American farmers! pic.twitter.com/Ms8q3ekSxR
— Rep. Marcy Kaptur (@RepMarcyKaptur) February 10, 2026
Kaptur wrote: “This is a slap in the face to NW Ohio cattlemen struggling to make a living. After giving $40 Billion to bailout Argentina before bailing out American farmers impacted by his trade wars, now we are helping Argentina again? This Administration is selling out American farmers!”
Several of the Republicans on the House Committee on Agriculture on Monday released the video below, which doesn’t mention Trump or his decision to import more beef from Argentina, but promotes the Committee’s new, five-year Farm Bill, which as Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) said “is a comprehensive plan to bring down the costs [of food] for every American.”
A new farm bill affects all of us, whether or not you live on a farm. Ag Committee Members have been hard at work on this important legislation—stay tuned for a big update this week on the farm bill. pic.twitter.com/LYcyp9QPnq
— House Committee on Agriculture (@HouseAgGOP) February 9, 2026
Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) said: “Whether you live on a farm or not, the Farm Bill affects you.” Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) said: “You can’t talk about affordability without talking about food.” Johnson added: “And you can’t talk about food without talking about the Farm Bill.” Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) said the new bill means “certainty of Americans feeding Americans.”