October 22, 2025 - 7:30pm
Donald Trump’s desire to boost Javier Milei in Argentina keeps putting the US President at odds with his own coalition. Seeking to bring down grocery prices, he is now floating the idea of importing Argentinian beef. Ranchers, lawmakers and influencers are far from pleased.
Earlier this month, Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arranged a $20 billion loan to rescue Argentina’s economy, which faced pushback after Milei’s government cut grain export taxes to China, further hurting the US soybean industry. Undeterred, Trump pressed ahead with the plan, brushing off criticism from fellow Republicans such as Sen. Chuck Grassley.
Milei could be in for another windfall. Beef prices have surged roughly 15% this year; eager to deliver on his cost-of-living promises while aiding an ally, Trump said on Sunday: “If we buy some beef — now, I’m not talking about that much — from Argentina, it would help Argentina, which we consider a very good country.”
This move, the US President argued, “will bring our beef prices down”. That claim is debatable, but what was clear was the level of anger coming from his own coalition over this decision. MAGA voices, including Tomi Lahren and the Hodge twins, denounced it as “not America first”, while Trump-supporting Meriwether Farms warned that ranchers were being betrayed. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed constituent frustration, and Rep. Thomas Massie slammed the plan, proposing alternatives he called “America First and MAHA”.
It’s unclear how much beef Trump plans to import and for how long he plans to import from Argentina. He was careful to say “I’m not talking about that much,” but even with his caveat, the base is clearly upset.
Trump wants to help Milei ahead of crucial elections this weekend. But he should also be wary about antagonising an industry that is woven into the fabric of Middle America. Cattle ranching’s struggles, combined with its mythological status in “flyover country”, is a cause MAGA and MAHA have long embraced. It’s a beloved tradition with deep roots in Trump’s coalition.
Ranchers are romanticised in great works of American art, and even modern pop-cultural touchstones such as Yellowstone and 1923. When the country expanded westward in the 19th century, generations of newcomers did the difficult work of raising up the food supply. Having long felt overlooked in a global economy that favours imports and big agribusiness, many in the ranching community saw hope in Trump’s promise to put “America first”, viewing him as their champion.
Can he get away with importing Argentinian beef and turning a blind eye to Milei’s soybean exports while keeping this coalition together? Trump is a singular figure with an infinite well of support from his backers, and he’s conscious of the need to strike deals. It’s possible the President tries to placate ranchers by giving them something in exchange for their patience with Argentinian imports. Despite the shutdown, for example, his administration is already working to release $3 billion in aid to farmers who are dealing with the effects of the tariffs.
With an eye on his legacy, Trump is swinging for the fences. His mind appears to be on the bigger-picture questions confronting the country. But there’s a reason Republicans in heavy agricultural states are speaking out against these policies, and it’s because they know Democrats will take advantage of any sense of betrayal from the GOP come the midterms next year. Trump isn’t on the ballot, but they are.
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