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Farmer Who Voted for Trump BEGS Him to End Trade War as He ‘Feels the Pain’

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In a twist that could rival any political drama, a soybean farmer who once proudly cast his vote for Donald Trump in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections is now pleading for an end to the trade war that’s wreaking havoc on his livelihood. The farmer, who had high hopes for Trump’s promises to revitalize American agriculture, finds himself grappling with the unintended consequences of those very policies.

The crux of the issue lies in the escalating tariffs between the U.S. and China. Trump’s administration imposed steep tariffs on Chinese goods, prompting China to retaliate with its own tariffs on American products, including soybeans. This tit-for-tat has severely disrupted the soybean market, leaving farmers like our protagonist with dwindling exports and plummeting prices.

As Trump and China continue upping their tariffs, Caleb Ragland, a Kentucky soybean farmer who serves as the president of the American Soybean Association, pleaded with Trump to end the trade war in an article published on Wednesday in The Free Press.

“I am one of the 500,000 soybean farmers in America who feels the pain. I rely on my own farm for 100 percent of the income for my family and the families of our three full-time workers,” he wrote.

He described the trade war as a “gamble with American livelihoods, especially for farmers” and urged Trump to “please make a deal with China now” to end it.

China imported 22.12 million metric tons of soybeans from the U.S. during the 2024-25 season, Reuters reported, and it’s the top U.S. product imported into China.

Trump’s announcement that retaliatory tariffs on countries willing to negotiate is a “sign of the president’s good faith,” Ragland wrote, noting that a deal is urgent because the farm economy is “weaker now than it was in his first term” following the first trade war against China, as well as rising inflation and production costs.

“The longer the stalemate continues, the likelier China is to take its business elsewhere—like Brazil, for instance, which could bring an additional 70 million acres of land into agricultural production by cutting down rainforests and converting degraded pastureland,” he warned.

The farmer’s predicament is emblematic of a broader trend affecting American agriculture. As China turns to other countries for soybean imports, U.S. farmers are left with surplus crops and shrinking profits. The very policies intended to protect American interests are, ironically, inflicting harm on the nation’s own farmers.

Adding to the irony, the Trump administration’s bailout efforts have been criticized for falling short. While billions were allocated to assist farmers impacted by the trade war, many recipients found the aid insufficient to cover their losses. The farmer in question, despite receiving some assistance, continues to struggle with the financial strain imposed by the ongoing trade tensions.

This situation underscores the complexities of international trade and the unintended consequences of protectionist policies. While the intention may have been to bolster American industries, the reality has been a cascade of challenges for those very sectors.

As the farmer appeals for an end to the trade war, his story serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of hasty policy decisions. It highlights the need for thoughtful, nuanced approaches to international relations—ones that consider the intricate web of global dependencies and the real-world impact on everyday citizens.

In the end, the farmer’s plea is not just about soybeans; it’s a call for policies that truly support the people they aim to protect.

Since Ragland voted for Trump three times, and is still proud of his vote, people on Twitter weren’t exactly feeling his pain:

YouTube video

You can watch his appearance on CNN HERE.

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