Trump pitches to Wisconsin farmers hit by tariffs, high prices

Seeking to shore up support among rural voters, U.S. President Donald Trump made a pitch to farmers in Wisconsin who have been hard-hit by tariffs and the economic fallout from the war with Iran. The visit to Chippewa Falls for a farming roundtable comes months before the November midterm elections, where Trump aims to bolster Republican U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden. Van Orden, who has closely aligned with Trump, faces a strong challenge from Democrat Rebecca Cook, who has led in recent polls. Democrats are favored to take control of the House of Representatives.

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I love the place, and hopefully you’re going to be voting Republican, because frankly, Republican is – I call it the sane way to go.

Farmers have been particularly impacted by Trump's aggressive tariff policies, which led many countries to limit imports of U.S. products, especially soybeans. These tariffs also increased the cost of imported items essential for farm operations. The administration has provided temporary aid packages to offset these effects. Additionally, fertilizer costs have surged since the U.S. and Israel launched the war with Iran, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz driving up prices of key components like urea. A recent survey indicated that 70 percent of U.S. farmers cannot afford all their fertilizer needs, and average gas prices have also risen significantly compared to the previous year.

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largely finished

Trump assured attendees that the administration had "largely finished" the war and vowed that fertilizer and gas prices would decrease. This visit occurs as Trump's overall approval ratings hover at low levels, with specific disapproval regarding his handling of gas prices. A Marquette Law School poll found only 19 percent of respondents approved of Trump's management of gas prices, and 22 percent approved of his handling of the economy.

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way down