CNN host Brianna Keilar and Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.) on CNN on December 9, 2025 (Image: Screengrab via CNN / YouTube)
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 pride and the integrity of the American farmer," he said. "... We are giving the farmers their safety nets through 80 percent of the farm bill that was passed through the One Big Beautiful Bill. Those safety nets are there. An increase in reference prices. We are helping the American farmers. Donald J. Trump knows the importance of feeding America and the world and we're gonna get it done."
"But that's not what farmers are telling you, right? I know that you've heard from them," Keilar countered. "They say they're hurting from tariffs. I know you had a town hall this summer, KMIZ reported about one farmer telling you it's not just that China was retaliating, they're not buying soybeans — even though that's back now — but tariffs actually drove up prices of fertilizer and other farm goods. ... But when you're paying more for goods that you paid a certain price for before, and your margins are pretty slim, do you think the administration is understanding this? Do you think they're getting that message?"
"Oh, yeah. They do, and they understand as I do, that it was Joe Biden that drove up the price of fertilizer 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 what this farmer told you. So what do you say to him?" Keilar asked.
"Well, that's what I'm telling you. I'm telling you right now—"
"—But that's not what this farmer told you, and he's the farmer who's telling you," Keilar said, before Alford attempted to cut her off.
"Sir, excuse me! This farmer, you heard him. He said this to you," she persisted. "This farmer explained to you when he saw his prices rise."
"Yes, we need to look at fertilizer prices. Fuel has come down and will continue to come down thanks to Donald Trump," Alford responded.
"Are you listening to your constituents? Because he was very clear about why his prices were 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:
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