When President Trump recently tweeted his plans to provide federal payments to farmers who have been harmed by "unjustified" foreign retaliation against U.S. tariffs, Americans from across the country quickly pointed out the absurdity of this policy.
Today I am making good on my promise to defend our Farmers & Ranchers from unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. I have authorized Secretary Perdue to implement the 2nd round of Market Facilitation Payments. Our economy is stronger than ever–we stand with our Farmers!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 17, 2018
Better idea: get rid of the meddlesome middleman in Washington D.C. and let American farmers and ranchers successfully compete on the open market like they want to do.
— Marshall Power Locke (@MarshallLocke) December 17, 2018
So we’re borrowing from China to subsidize farmers that can’t sell to China now. #Winning
— HudsonRiverCroc (@HudsonRiverCroc) December 17, 2018
Paying off the farmers NOT to trade their goods is not success. It's failure.
— Nora Dunn (@noradunn) December 17, 2018
These two cocepts - a strong economy and the need to bail out the ag industry - simply do not jive.
— Richard Chandler (@TCDriller99) December 17, 2018
You are the one who caused the problem. Now taxpayers have to fix it.
— cathy vogt (@pgdayton) December 17, 2018
This measure is a poor reflection on a failing policy. Are you going to bail out every industry impacted by your tariffs?.
— Raffishere (@raffrebeca) December 17, 2018
Thanks for sticking the taxpayers with this bail out caused by your tariffs.
— The Colonel’s Daughter (@ColonelDaughter) December 17, 2018
I'm sorry, why are taxpayers paying for a #tradewar you created!
— B. Lehman (@HOOISJG) December 17, 2018
Paying off farmers as compensation for destroying the market for their produce doesn't make our country stronger. It destroys their sense of pride and accomplishment.
— Melissa Hope (@missyhopez) December 17, 2018
You mean the welfare to farmers to bail them out after your disastrous tarriffs cost them money.
— David Godin (@RH201ST) December 17, 2018
Having the Tax payers bailing out the farmers isn’t exactly a success story
— Peachy Pauly (@PaulyPeachy) December 17, 2018
The overwhelming response to President Trump's announcement suggests that average Americans understand more about trade policy than the White House "experts" who encouraged him to start a trade war based on the mistaken belief that no country in the world would retaliate. Instead of borrowing more money to bail out farmers, President Trump should remove the tariffs.