Soybean farmer, Trump voter: $12 billion aid offer to farmers is a ‘pacifier’

A soybean farmer who voted for President Trump and who stands to benefit from the $12 billion in aid the president offered to farmers hindered by retaliatory tariffs says he’d “rather not have” the aid.

“I mean, I understand they’re trying to help us. I get that. But it’s not a long-term fix. It’s a pacifier, so to speak,” Illinois soybean farmer Dave Kestel said of the president’s plan in an interview with CBS News published on Wednesday. “I’d rather not have it.”

{mosads}The comments came just one day after the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it would offer $12 billion in aid to farmers who were hurt by retaliatory tariffs imposed on U.S. grain, produce and meat exports.

The announcement arrives as the president’s imposition of levies on imported aluminum, steel and Chinese goods have continued to hurt American farmers who have been targeted with retaliatory tariffs from top U.S. trading partners.

The European Union, Canada, Mexico and China have all responded with tariffs on the country’s key agricultural exports, including soybeans, beef, poultry and apples. 

“Right now, we’re looking at beans used to be 10 bucks, now they’re down to 8 bucks. That’s a 20 percent pay cut basically,” Kestel said.

Trump’s trade policies have been met with some criticism from Republican lawmakers who blame the president for recent hindrances being placed on American farmers as his trade war escalates. 

“They’ve been taking the legs out from under America’s farmers and ranchers,” Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said to CBS News. “What the administration is offering them instead is $12 billion in gold-plated crutches. That’s not what anybody wants.” 

“I just don’t think the tariff route is the smart way to go,” Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) also told the publication.