This from the pro-democracy Lincoln Project, with a few comments below:

First, Trump screwed over American soybean farmers with his pointless trade war with China.

Now, Trump’s screwing over American ranchers by promising to import millions of dollars of Argentinian beef.

Trump hates America’s farmers.

Betrayal really is the right word.

Don’t forget, Trump won 93% of rural areas less than a year ago. Farmers voted for this guy because they thought he would have their back. But since coming into office, all Trump has done is screw them over. We’re not surprised.

But now’s not the time to say “ha, ha, I told you so!” – even though that’s kind of our jam.

Now, we need to reach out to the Americans Trump lied to. Show them they’re not better off. And show them the way forward is kicking this liar and his enablers out of office. Their costs are going up, too.

Trump’s bottom line is… well, the bottom’s falling out. If Trump wants his party to even have a prayer at keeping their majorities, he needs to carry the rural vote. And from what it looks like now, the rural vote is about ready to turn on the party they supported in the last cycle.

A few points.

1) Trump doesn’t “hate” farmers, any more than he hates real estate agents or pastry chefs.  One thing we have learned about Trump over the years is that everything and everyone in his life is a transaction. If someone can do something good for him in terms of wealth and/or power, he’s a friend.  For now.

The only people he “hates” are people who never, under any circumstances, are in a position to help him.  That’s why he said the other day, “I hate Democrats,” meaning those people who support preserving democracy and rule of law, while repelling fascism.

2) I’m sure that farmers are keenly aware that Trump’s tariffs have hurt them; they don’t need to be told this.    I know tons of these people, and they’re very good at basic math in terms of tons/acre, dollars/ton, etc.

3) Not only are farmers aware of the fact that Trump’s tariffs have begun to hurt them financially, but they are also upset.  I use the word “begun” because the real economic damage that tariffs create emerges over a period of years, not weeks or months.

4) Let’s consider for a moment the mindset of the typical American farmer.  Sure, financial success is important but so are (in most cases) extreme conservative values.

A few years ago, my brother told me, speaking about someone we both know well, “He’d vote for an orangutan before he’d vote to Hillary Clinton.”

In any case, good for the Lincoln Project for doing what they can to help the United States climb out of the pit into which it’s fallen.

Trump Runs into Trouble with U.S. Farmers–But How MUCH Trouble?