Trump in Wisconsin: President talks farming, agenda
Trump talks farming, agenda in Wisconsin
President Donald Trump stood alongside dairy farmers and top Wisconsin Republicans during a visit to Chippewa Falls on Friday, June 5.
CHIPPEWA COUNTY, Wis. - President Donald Trump stood alongside dairy farmers and top Wisconsin Republicans during a visit to Chippewa Falls on Friday, his first trip to the state since his reelection in 2024.
Appeal to farmers
What they're saying:
"They built this country. You all built this country. Not the complainers, not the wise guys. You all built this country," Trump said of farmers.
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Wisconsin farmers were at the center of a roundtable discussion at Custer Farms about brutal economic realities.
"I think we've all experienced some tough times here in the last four or five years, and listening to what you guys are saying, very hopeful for some better times coming," said Steve, a farmer. "Some of the stuff that we see and talk about that really affects us is the monopolization of the inputs."
President Trump in Chippewa County
"We're going to come out, and your fertilizer prices are going to go way down, just like they were four months ago," said Trump.
In a recent survey, an American Farm Bureau Federation report found 94% of farmers do not believe their financial situation has improved over the past year. Many blamed tariffs and the ongoing war in Iran for their struggles.
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"Your fertilizer's down. Your energy is down, your oil, your gas is all coming way down," said Trump.
Trump promised relief on Friday, adding that the high fuel and fertilizer prices will drop in the next 90 days after what he called a highly successful U.S. Naval blockade against Iran.
Democrats critical
The other side:
Democrats challenged those remarks from the president.
"Wisconsin farmers and rural families have heard a lot of promises from Donald Trump, from Tom Tiffany, from Derrick Van Orden," said U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin). "What they've also seen are higher costs, more uncertainty and policies that are making it harder and harder for them to get ahead."
Baldwin's swipe at U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisconsin) comes in what could be a tight midterm race to represent Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District. The incumbent, Van Orden, is seeking a third term.
Official statements
What they're saying:
Politicians and political organizations responded to President Trump's visit.
RNC Spokesman Hunter Lovell:
"President Trump and Congressman Derrick Van Orden fight for Wisconsin’s farmers, manufacturers, and small business owners because they are the engine of rural America. Together, they’re delivering historic tax relief through the Working Families Tax Cuts and advancing commonsense agriculture wins that strengthen family farms, create jobs, and keep rural Wisconsin communities strong for generations to come."
Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Mandela Barnes:
"Donald Trump came to Chippewa Falls today to meet with farmers, and while he didn’t fall asleep during this meeting, that actually might have been better.
"I sat down with a dozen family farmers in the same county as Trump’s event earlier this week. They are reeling because the illegal war in Iran and disastrous tariffs have caused farm bankruptcies to surge 700%, doubled the price of diesel, and cut dairy farm profits nearly in half.
"So–naturally, Trump spent his roundtable with Wisconsin farmers ranting about his new reflecting pool and forgetting the name of the Washington monument.
"Wisconsin farmers need a Governor who has a real plan to lower costs and stand up to Donald Trump and Tom Tiffany’s price hikes.
"It’s time to get things done the Wisconsin Way. When I’m Governor, I will protect America’s Dairyland by suing the Trump administration for a tariff refund, take on the out-of-state monopolies pricing out family farms, and invest in building the next generation of Wisconsin dairy farmers."
AFP-WI Legislative Director Jerry Ponio:
"President Trump’s visit comes at an important time for Wisconsin farmers, who need leaders willing to stand with them, lower costs, and expand opportunity. Unfortunately, Madison Democrats have grown so out of touch with rural Wisconsin that Governor Evers’ answer to struggling farm families was a proposed 1,700 percent fee increase. It’s great to see the President here in America’s Dairyland shining a spotlight on the hardworking families this state was built on. While Madison Democrats look to make life harder for our agricultural community, members of our federal delegation like Congressmen Van Orden and Tiffany have been fighting for them in Washington and delivering results. The Working Families Tax Cuts represent the largest investment in American farmers in a generation, and we are confident Tom Tiffany will bring that same pro-farmer commitment to our agricultural community as Wisconsin’s next governor."
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin):
"Wisconsin farmers do backbreaking work to produce world-class products that feed the world and drive our rural economies. President Trump came into office promising to support our farmers, but instead has taken every opportunity to jack up their costs, limit their customers, and cut into their margins. Between Donald Trump’s trade war, unnecessary war in Iran, and attacks on our health care system, Wisconsin farmers are paying more for everything, and Donald Trump has no solutions to the problems he’s caused. As President Trump visits Wisconsin, he owes our farmers more than lip service – they need real relief from the high costs they are paying."
The Source: FOX6 received planning information from the White House and will stream the event live.