A House Republican recently tried to assert in a live interview that former President Joe Biden was more responsible for farmers' current economic plight than President Donald Trump's administration. But CNN host Brianna Keilar refused to let his remarks go unchallenged.

During a Tuesday segment on CNN, Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.) defended the Trump administration's recent decision to allocate $12 billion in tariff revenue toward farmers whose costs have been rising due to tariffs. Keilar quoted one farmer who called the payments "a band-aid on an open wound" and who called for market-based solutions to their woes, rather than direct government assistance.

"I understand the prideand the integrity of the American farmer," he said. "... We are giving thefarmers their safety netsthrough 80 percent of the farm billthat was passed through the One Big Beautiful Bill. Thosesafety nets are there. Anincrease in reference prices. Weare helping the Americanfarmers. Donald J. Trump knowsthe importance of feeding America and the world and we'regonna get it done."

"But that's not what farmersare telling you, right? I knowthat you've heard from them," Keilar countered. "They say they're hurting fromtariffs. I know you had a townhall this summer, KMIZ reportedabout one farmer telling youit's not just that China wasretaliating, they're not buyingsoybeans — even though that'sback now — but tariffs actuallydrove up prices of fertilizerand other farm goods. ... Butwhen you're paying more forgoods that you paid a certainprice for before, and yourmargins are pretty slim, do youthink the administration isunderstanding this? Do you thinkthey're getting that message?"

"Oh, yeah. They do, and they understandas I do, that it was Joe Bidenthat drove up the price offertilizer and fuel with his war on fossil fuels," Alford said about the Biden administration (which oversaw record oil & has production) before Keilar interjected.

"Well, no, that's not whatthis farmer told you. So what doyou say to him?" Keilar asked.

"Well, that's what I'm tellingyou. I'm telling you right now—"

"—But that's not what thisfarmer told you, and he's thefarmer who's telling you," Keilar said, before Alford attempted to cut her off.

"Sir,excuse me! This farmer, you heardhim. He said this to you," she persisted. "This farmer explained to you when he saw hisprices rise."

"Yes, we need to look atfertilizer prices. Fuel has comedown and will continue to comedown thanks to Donald Trump," Alford responded.

"Are you listening to yourconstituents? Because he wasvery clear about why his priceswere going up," Keilar said.

"Brianna, I did 15 stops on a town hall tour, one of the few Congress members on the Republican side and the Democrat side to actually do that. Yes ma'am. I listened," Alford said. "I took 256 questions and sat there and listened listened to insults, listened to yelling, listened to name calling, and answered when they wanted to be respectful. I remember that farmer. I understand his concern. But the large number of farmers in Missouri believe in Donald J. Trump and that he's going to get things done."

Watch the full exchange below:


- YouTubewww.youtube.com

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