President Donald Trump visited western Wisconsin recently, speaking to farmers at an event in Chippewa Falls amid pouring rain. The interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker took place inside a barn, set against the backdrop of John Deere machinery. Rain hammered the roof as the conversation turned to the struggles facing American agriculture.
Farmers have long formed a core part of Trump’s base. Many backed him strongly in 2024, drawn to promises of better trade deals, lower costs, and respect for rural America. But today, a growing number feel under-represented and frustrated. They voted expecting relief, yet face skyrocketing input costs, declining net income, and a wave of financial pain.
The Transcript Tells the Story
During the interview, Welker pressed on rising costs:
KRISTEN WELKER: And yet, gas is up. Diesel is up.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP: It’s all coming down as soon as the war’s over.
KRISTEN WELKER: Well, 70% of farmers say they can’t afford fertilizer. What’s your message to —
PRES. DONALD TRUMP: The farmers are doing very well.
Welker: "Gas is up. Diesel is up."
Trump: "It's all coming down as soon as the war's over."
Welker: "70% of farmers say they can't afford fertilizer."
Trump: "The farmers are doing very well."
Welker: "What's your message to farmers?"
Trump: "All of them support me." pic.twitter.com/uTfDceKnqM
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) June 7, 2026
Welker followed up, noting that many farmers who support Trump say they are struggling. Trump responded that all of them support him and repeatedly highlighted past aid: “$28 billion because China took advantage… And you know who paid for it? China.” He emphasized love between him and farmers, record votes, and future price drops once the Iran situation resolves. He described a choice to disrupt short-term stability for long-term security.
Farmers in the heartland hear this and see a disconnect. Many are hanging on by a thread. They do not view distant foreign conflicts as their top priority. They worry about making payroll, affording fertilizer and diesel, and keeping the family operation alive for another season.
The Reality on the Ground
Data paints a tough picture. Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies rose 46% in 2025 to 315 filings, the second straight year of increases. The Midwest saw particularly sharp pain.
High production costs, elevated interest rates, compressed commodity prices, and heavy debt loads continue pressuring operations into 2026. Net farm income forecasts show ongoing strain, with many relying on government payments just to stay afloat.
This is not abstract. Families who work the land every day report they cannot absorb endless spikes in fuel, fertilizer, and equipment costs. While Trump points to past bailouts as proof of support, those payments largely offset losses from trade disruptions during his first term. Taxpayers footed the bill for aid that addressed problems created by tariff retaliation.
Meanwhile, the Trump family has seen an increase of billions of dollar in net worth over the past year through business ventures, real estate, shady stock purchases in companies that then get government contracts, and other such deals. Many farm families contrast that with their own ledgers showing red ink and difficult choices about the next planting season.
Priorities That Matter to Farmers
Farmers care about practical results: predictable markets, affordable inputs, stable trade access, and policies that keep rural communities strong. Endless focus on Iran and promises that prices will drop “as soon as the war’s over” ring hollow when diesel and fertilizer bills arrive now. They question whether hundreds of billions spent abroad, loss of American lives, and further cost spikes justify the pain at home.
This is not about abandoning strength or security. It is about priorities. American agriculture built this nation’s backbone. Farmers want leaders who listen when they say costs are crushing them, markets feel unstable, and bailouts do not replace reliable profits from the land.
Trump’s visit put him in front of the right symbols, like the John Deere iron symbolizing American ingenuity and hard work. But symbols and past loyalty only go so far. Farmers delivered strong support before. Many now feel the return on that investment has been one-sided. They want straight talk on fixing high costs, opening stable markets, and recognizing that rural America cannot be taken for granted. Instead, what they got was Trump claiming all farmers love him and are doing great, and not too long after, they watched as the president stormed out of the interview.
Rain fell hard in Wisconsin that day. For too many farm families, the economic storm feels just as relentless. AgroWars will keep covering what they actually face. We’re not interested in partisan rhetoric, but the numbers, the bills, and the daily fight to keep operations running. Farmers deserve representation that puts their realities first.