Trump Responds to Rancher’s Call for Deregulation to Lower Beef Prices
Following a heartfelt appeal from Glenn Beck, co-founder of Blaze Media, President Donald Trump has decided to take steps aimed at deregulating the agricultural sector to combat what he sees as a monopolistic grip on meat processing.
On Friday, Trump announced via Truth Social that he is enabling farmers and ranchers to process their own livestock more easily, which could help reduce beef prices.
“I am authorizing legal documents to be drawn in order to allow Farmers and Ranchers to be given the right to PROCESS THEIR OWN FOOD,” he stated.
Beck had previously interviewed Trump and highlighted how only a handful of large meat-processing companies dominate the market, which has been contributing to rising beef costs. Drawing from his personal experience as a cattle rancher in Southeast Idaho, he explained the challenges posed by these processing plants. “I run a ranch, so I know what it’s like, and I’m telling you, it’s the processing plants. There’s four of them, and two might not even be American. It’s bad. And I believe they’re colluding,” Beck expressed.
Trump appeared somewhat surprised at the inaction of ranchers and farmers, remarking, “They’re smart as hell. I’m surprised they haven’t done anything about it; that’s been going on a long time, Glenn.” In response to Beck’s plea for relief from federal regulations impacting butchering, Trump assured him that his administration would expedite the deregulation process.
“Ranchers and Farmers have always been my top priority. They’re hardworking, efficient, and dedicated, yet for years, I’ve heard about their struggles with big processors, many of which operate like a nasty monopoly,” he wrote. He further added, “There are really four main players, and it’s a very non-competitive situation that makes life difficult for our great Farmers and Ranchers, and I can’t allow that.”
Beef prices have been steadily increasing, reportedly rising about 37.8% over the past three years due to a decline in U.S. cattle production.
Brooke Rollins, Secretary of the Agriculture Department, also endorsed the deregulation initiative. “We are on it, Mr. President! Our great AMERICAN ranchers produce the highest-quality beef globally, and it’s essential for national security that we can feed ourselves,” she stated.
Rollins outlined several aims for the proposal, such as:
- Reducing bureaucratic hurdles in processing,
- Enhancing ranchers’ ability to sell products across state lines,
- Updating outdated regulations,
- Implementing technology for faster safety data,
- Providing tangible support for small processors through funding and less regulation,
- Encouraging competition among smaller processors, and
- Improving transparency in food labeling.
“The world is hungry for American beef!” she emphasized.
