Several Republican senators representing America’s farm belt challenged President Donald Trump on his proposal to import more beef from Argentina, according to Politico.
Trump first floated the idea of importing beef from Argentina on Sunday, telling reporters aboard Air Force One: “We would buy some beef from Argentina … If we do that, that will bring our beef prices down.”
The objections to this idea came during a lunch at the White House that was originally intended to highlight GOP cohesion around the government shutdown and upcoming confirmation hearings for his nominees.
Politico reported, citing multiple senators in attendance, that the gathering shifted into a heated discussion of the beef import plan.
According to the report, the president told those present he was concerned about U.S. consumer beef prices, but also acknowledged the impact on domestic ranchers.
Still, tension arose as farm state Republicans voiced fears that bringing in Argentinian beef would undercut their operations and run counter to their “America First” commitments.
In separate conversations on Tuesday, a handful of GOP senators met one‑on‑one with Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Those officials appeared to offer different sketches of what the plan would look like, fueling frustration among lawmakers.
A GOP senator, who was not named, told the outlet: “everyone says something different.”
Meanwhile, agricultural industry groups that have been solid supporters of Trump’s trade agenda are also pushing back. They warn that an influx of Argentine beef could destabilize the U.S. cattle market and threaten domestic producers’ viability.