Trump Courts Farmers in Wisconsin Amid Economic Challenges

The Presidential Pitch

United States President Donald Trump has sought to reassure farmers hard-hit by tariffs and the economic fallout of the US-Israeli war with Iran during a visit to Wisconsin.

Farmers Hit by Tariffs and High Prices

The stop in Chippewa Falls on Friday for a farming roundtable comes months before the midterm elections in November. Trump was seeking to bolster support for Republican US Representative Derrick Van Orden, who has been targeted by Democrats hoping to take control of the chamber.

• Farmers have been particularly hard-hit by Trump's aggressive tariff policies, with many countries limiting imports of US products, notably soybeans, in response.
• The tariffs have also made importing items needed for daily operations more expensive.

Economic Challenges Facing Farmers

The administration has sought to offset the fallout with temporary aid packages for farmers.

• An April survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation found that 70 percent of farmers in the US reported they cannot afford all of their fertiliser needs.
• The average gas price of $4.04 per gallon of petrol this week was also $1.08 higher than a year ago, according to the American Automobile Association.

The Impact on Midterm Elections

Democrats are considered favourites to take control of the US House of Representatives, currently controlled by Republicans, in the midterms.

Success for Democrats would allow the party to seriously restrict Trump's agenda in the final two years of his term.

The Future Outlook

Trump assured those gathered that the administration had 'largely finished' the war 'one way or the other'.

He vowed fertiliser and gas prices would come 'way down'.