Morgan Griffith stays silent as Republicans push back on Trump’s foreign beef plan

On August 21st, President Donald Trump promised to cut tariffs on beef imports and promised that the foreign producers would sell for 25% less than the market rate that US cattle ranchers receive. While the reaction was swift and unified from politicians from cattle-producing states on both sides of the aisle, Morgan Griffith has so far stayed quiet on the topic.

“You know what nobody asked for? Foreign, imported beef,” said Joy Powers, the 2026 Democratic competitor for Griffith’s House seat. Rep. Tim Sheehy, a reliable Trump ally and Republican Senator from Montana, said: “I’ve advised President Trump against this course of action for a year because American ranchers have been struggling … This will … make it more difficult for American ranchers to rebuild our herd and bring prices down for the American people.”

At least 12 Republican members of Congress have directly come out against the proposal, representing states with high cattle production like Iowa, Nebraska, Montana, and South Dakota.

Virginia’s 9th District is the heart of Virginia’s cattle industry, with over $346 million in cow and calf sales. 97% of the District’s farms are family-owned, meaning that Trump’s policy will hit Southwestern Virginia’s hardworking family farm owners hardest.

The beef industry has also directly criticized the bill: “[National Cattlemen’s Beef Association] is disappointed by the President’s statement. While America’s cattle producers share the goal of keeping groceries affordable for consumers, flooding the market with government-subsidized, below-market beef is not the way to rebuild the American cattle herd.”

Morgan Griffith’s silence on the matter is part of a larger pattern. When President Trump announced cheap beef would be imported from Argentina in 2025, Griffith didn’t sign a letter from other Republican Representatives pushing back. Instead, his weak response was that “The U.S. House of Representatives needs to pay close attention to the potential anti-competitive behaviors of some large meatpacking entities.”

At a time when Southwest Virginia’s family farmers are already struggling, Morgan Griffith refuses to stand up for them, leaving them to wonder whether he’s for them or against them.

See President Trump’s statement here: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117133120342300539

See Joy Powers’ response here: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18y6n2RNDp/