Thune breaks with Trump on Argentine beef imports

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

10/23/25 10:38 AM ET


Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) says President Trump is making a mistake by calling for a significant increase in beef imports from Argentina to offset rising prices at American grocery stores. Thune acknowledged in an interview with Semafor that Trump is trying to “drive down beef prices” to help American consumers, but he argued that flooding the U.S. market with foreign beef doesn’t make sense.

“This isn’t the way to do it,” Thune said. “It’s created a lot of uncertainty in that market. So I’m hoping that the White House has gotten the message.” Thune’s comments represent a rare split with the president, who hosted Republican senators for lunch at the White House on Tuesday.

Thune’s home state is a major beef producer; beef production accounts for roughly 9 percent of its agricultural industry, according to South Dakota State University. The beef industry accounts for more than 12,000 jobs created in the state across more than 13,000 farms, according to Ag United for South Dakota.

Other farm-state Republicans have raised concerns about Trump’s plans to significantly increase the beef import quota for Argentine beef.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5569456-thune-trump-argentina-beef/

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(You know EXACTLY what you can do to fix that problem but you won't because you refuse to get off your knees)

[BaronChocula]

1. Beef TACOs

Many people are saying this should be on the menu.

[peppertree]

14. TACO: Cheeto and the Cattlemen both!

Remember, in '98, when they sued Oprah after she aired a video clip showing revolting slaughterhouse conditions?

The Cattlemen's Assoc. claimed they lost some relatively minor amount of money - and (of course), Rash Lumpballs turned it into another culture war flashpoint.

They lost - in an Amarillo court! - and Farce News caterwauled all day as to how "this would destroy the beef industry - the pride of America!"

And now? Crickets.

Trump could bomb their cattle ranches, and they'd still justify him.

[BaronChocula]

16. And who did O. Winfrey hire as a consultant in that case?

Phil "maga" McGraw!
How many times can you go full circle without losing consciousness?

[durablend]

2. Blah blah blah

Back down on your knees John. DJT orders you.

[sheshe2]

3. Oh my!

Thune, Ernst, Moran and Tuberville are expressing their concern concerning beef imports. Collin's concern seems to be spreading through their party. 🤔😱😢

[surfered]

4. Hell has, apparently, frozen over.

[Henry203]

5. Hey Thune

why are prices up? It is your idiot's policies.

[underpants]

6. It's like they didn't think this out

[twodogsbarking]

7. Why don't the Republicans just move to Argentina. Problem solved.

[rampartd]

9. that may be the plan

[peppertree]

12. Though it wouldn't be likely to last - given the likely results of the 2027 elections.

Milei was pushed over the top by impulse voters in '23 - people that were mostly fed up with the 8% monthly inflation (made all the worse by a 100-year drought that year, and the IMF's imposing a devaluation just before the election - something they refuse to do with Milei, despite the current overvaluation of the peso).

But only about a third of Argentine voters are real fascists and bigots - i.e. Milei's base. And his approval (like Trump's) currently sits at 37% - such that he's pretty much down to his base.

And as the carry-trade bubble continues to implode (the state borrows dollars; they finance private offshoring; the rest panic as the dollars run out), Milei's already meager re-election chances will only fritter away even more.

That's if he makes it to 2027 at all.

Once the center-left (probably in a Peronist-led coalition) comes back in, any RW expats are likely to leave.

Interestingly, there've been a few YouTube RW'ers who moved to Argentina when the center-left Alberto Fernández was still in office (Jake Runnels, and 'Economic Front' Tanner from Montana and his very nice family) - but have since left as they've watched their costs in dollars balloon.

Goes to show that right-wing economics doesn't even work for right-wingers - especially in Argentina.

[rampartd]

17. krasnov's justification "milei's a great guy with a great philosophy"

makes no sense. if this economic philosophy is so great why does he need a bail out?

who will bail us out?

thanks for the detail.

[peppertree]

21. You're very welcome.

They're already calling this Trump's Financial Vietnam.

"Vietnams" come in many disguises...

[travelingthrulife]

19. Or Russia. That is where white supremacy reigns supreme.

[peppertree]

22. Eees too cold

The fat bastard likes sunny weather - although after the 2027 elections, when the center-left is expected to be voted back in, Cheeto and his cronies may want to leave.

(if not sooner - given Milei's frequent nervous breakdowns)

And that's assuming that Doughnold will still be with us in '27 - and not as a vegetable.

[CincyDem]

8. I think our beef farmers have a longer term concern.

US beef is predominantly corn fed. Argentinian beef is predominantly grass fed. They taste different and, imho, it isn’t subtle.

I happen to like corn fed but I know folks, mostly who have traveled to Europe, who like grass fed. Considering that 50% of the US population has likely NOT had grass fed beef, ya gotta wonder how many will actually like grass fed when they have it.

Important to the US beef industry to keep corn fed as the standard of excellence.

IMHO.

[turbinetree]

10. Hey Thune Baby, your about 6 years to late...............with your blah blah................not once but twice..........

you were given the means to protect the ranchers.............or is your memory that short..............

[Wonder Why]

11. You finally listened to those multi-millionaire ranchers who've been buying your vote you all these years?

[popsdenver]

13. Trump has already decimated the U.S. Farmers

AND" this is the way you do it".........if you want to destroy the ranchers also....

What group of Republican Voters are next????????? LOL

They must be confident that the "FIX" is in, on all future elections and their voters aren't needed ever more.....

[Strelnikov_]

15. Beef Boy. It's what's for dinner.

[Ray Bruns]

18. I'm taking bets on how fast Thune backtracks when Trump hears about this.

And 24 hours is taken.

[travelingthrulife]

20. Letting go of beef would be good for Americans.

Trump is doing it all wrong as usual.