Cattle Rancher Calls Trump ‘Delusional’ Over Beef Price Claims

UPDATE: Cattle rancher Craig Bieber has publicly challenged Donald Trump‘s recent claims about beef prices, labeling the former president “delusional” during an urgent segment on MSNBC this morning. This confrontation comes after Trump asserted that tariffs on imported cattle were the reason behind the current success of American ranchers.

In a post on October 11, 2023, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “The Cattle Ranchers, who I love, don’t understand that they are doing well for the first time in decades due to my tariffs on cattle coming into the United States, including a 50% tariff on Brazil.” He further claimed that without his intervention, ranchers would still be struggling as they had for the past two decades.

Responding on October 14, 2023, Bieber, the vice president of the South Dakota Cattleman’s Beef Association, disputed Trump’s assertions. “I think the president is delusional in the fact that he had anything to do with these markets,” Bieber stated emphatically. He emphasized that the beef market was already on an upward trend due to years of drought that had reduced cattle herds, leading to a natural shortage.

“Almost everybody in the industry that was aware knew this was coming,” Bieber added, suggesting that Trump’s claims were disconnected from the reality faced by ranchers. He stated, “The tariffs didn’t have anything to do with where we were at from a market standpoint.”

This back-and-forth highlights the ongoing tension between political narratives and the realities of agricultural economics. As beef prices surge, ranchers are keen to clarify the factors at play, which they argue are rooted in long-term industry challenges rather than the recent political maneuvers.

With beef prices climbing and consumer interest at the forefront, the implications of these statements resonate deeply within the agricultural community and beyond. The impact of tariffs, market forecasts, and political statements will continue to be a hot topic as ranchers prepare for what lies ahead.

As this story develops, ranchers and industry experts are closely monitoring both market shifts and political rhetoric, eager to clarify the facts surrounding their livelihoods. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving situation.