Trump plans to lower beef prices by … using communism?

Source: USA Today
by Rex Huppke

“I’ve heard a lot lately about how socialism and communism are bad, at least when it’s a Democrat proposing ways to ease American consumers’ economic pain. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan for five municipal grocery stores where a ‘core basket of everyday groceries will be 30 percent cheaper’ was pilloried by Republicans. … OK. But now Trump is saying his new bought-from-wherever imported beef will be sold 25% below the market price. That sounds a lot like the government controlling food prices. The final piece of the hypocrisy turducken is that Trump’s mystery-meat plan wholly undercuts his incessant claims that tariffs don’t affect consumers. … in one fell swoop, President Cheeseburger angered the cattle ranchers who’ve long been loyal to him …. He demonstrated the inanity of the GOP’s fearmongering about communism and socialism. And he confirmed what everyone already knew about his reckless tariffs and the financial burden they’ve imposed on consumers.” (08/23/26)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/08/23/trump-ground-beef-tariff-waiver-cattle-ranchers/91386869007/