Trump’s Trade War Comes Home to Roost: Farmers Bear the Brunt

Blue Press Journal – In a striking critique, Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume slammed President Donald Trump’s handling of the US trade war, pointing out that the administration’s own policies have left American farmers reeling. Trump’s proposed $12 billion aid package for embattled farmers is merely a Band-Aid on a wound caused by his own “disastrous policies,” Hume argued.

The aid package, which includes $11 billion in one-time payments to crop farmers and $1 billion for other crops, is an admission that Trump’s trade war has taken a toll on the agricultural sector. The President’s steep international tariffs, touted as a boon to the US, have instead hurt American farmers who are now being subsidized with taxpayer dollars.

During a roundtable event on Monday, Trump boasted that his trade war had generated the funds needed to bail out crop farmers. He also praised his tariffs on social media, claiming they were benefiting the US. However, economists argue that it’s hypocritical for Trump to take credit for helping farmers when his own policies are the root cause of their problems.

“This is not a bridge loan; this is a subsidy,” Hume said, referring to the Agriculture Department’s new Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. “And it’s put the president now in a position where he’s got to try to help the farmers.”

Trump’s tariffs, which include a 10% baseline tariff on all imports and levies on China as high as 30%, were supposed to be paid for by foreign countries. However, the costs have been passed on to American consumers, including farmers who are struggling to stay afloat.

The President’s attempt to spin the aid package as a success story has been met with skepticism. As Hume noted, “Trump is using our tax dollars to fix his poor judgment and economic policy.” The $12 billion bailout is a clear acknowledgment that Trump’s trade war has failed, and that American taxpayers are footing the bill.

As the trade war continues to drag on, it’s unclear how much longer farmers will be able to weather the storm. One thing is certain: Trump’s policies have come home to roost, and it’s the American taxpayer who is being left to pick up the tab. It’s funny that farmers supported Trump in large numbers for his election and now taxpayers have to pay for their poor decision.