Trump Targets Foreign Meat Packers Over Beef Prices Surge

In a striking move, former President Donald Trump on Friday called on the Department of Justice to investigate foreign-owned meat packers, accusing them of driving beef prices to record levels across the United States. The announcement came amid growing public concern over the cost of living and a series of political setbacks for Republicans in recent elections.

Trump singled out major meat producers, suggesting that collusion, price-fixing, and manipulation were behind the soaring costs. “We will always protect our American ranchers,” he stated, pointing out that many of the largest meatpacking companies are majority foreign-owned, which, he claims, jeopardizes both food prices and the nation’s supply chain security.

Beef prices have been rising sharply due to multiple factors, including drought conditions, years of low prices, and the resulting reduction in the US cattle herd—the smallest in decades. Additionally, Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter, have limited imports even as domestic demand remains strong, leaving consumers reluctant to shift toward chicken or pork despite higher costs.

The US beef market is highly concentrated, with four major companies controlling much of the supply. Among them, Brazil-based JBS stands out as the largest beef producer in the US, also producing significant amounts of poultry and pork. The company has previously faced legal scrutiny for price-fixing; in 2022, it settled a $52.5 million lawsuit alongside Tyson Foods and others over alleged manipulation of slaughter numbers to inflate beef prices, without admitting wrongdoing.

Senators Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, and Tim Sheehy of Montana met with Trump to discuss the volatility in beef prices. Mullin said the White House agreed to involve the Justice Department in the matter, comparing it to similar antitrust disputes faced by meatpackers in 2019.

Trump’s comments also come on the heels of his suggestion last month that the US could import beef from Argentina to help lower domestic prices, a proposal that drew criticism from American cattle ranchers. Rising food prices have been a bipartisan concern, with past administrations emphasizing the need to increase competition and prevent price gouging in the meat industry.