President Trump visits Wisconsin, speaks to farmers and discusses Iran war
CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- President Donald Trump came to Wisconsin on Friday, June 5 to speak to farmers. The roundtable, which was almost like a rally, drew people from across the state. He discussed a number of topics, including the Iran war.
Before Trump arrived in the Dairy State, Democrats held a press conference where they had a local kidney bean farmer share her concerns. Cindy Brown is a Chippewa Valley bean farmer. She says the direct hit to her company, Chippewa Valley Bean, has been difficult.
“Chippewa Valley Bean cannot ship beans to our customers in Dubai, because vessels cannot transit the Strait of Hormuz,” Brown said. “Now, on top of that, other freight costs into the Gulf have increased by $4,000 a load, and we can't afford those prices, nor can our customers.”
She says the continued Republican support for the Iran war is disappointing and that she isn’t the only farmer being harmed. There was also a protest as President Trump landed in Wisconsin. Those protesters were joined by two democratic candidates for Governor. Each highlighted what they have been hearing from farmers.
"Between the cost of diesel, tariffs making us lose markets, bank credit tightening up, we're really, really seeing farmers struggle all across Wisconsin,” Missy Hughes a democratic Candidate for Governor of Wisconsin.
"Donald Trump ran on lowering the cost of everything from groceries to gas, and what has he done, he's made it impossible for farmers to sell the food that they grow and jacked up the price of everything from gas to groceries,” State Sen. Kelda Roys a democratic candiate for Governor said.
Despite the concerns of some in the state, hundreds of people gathered at Custer Farm to listen to the president speak. Some eagerly stood in the rain.
Leslie Jackson, who lives in rural America, wanted to hear what the president had to say. She feels smaller farms need some help. She supports the president but does think politicians should look at ways to help smaller producers.
“My cousins had a small family farm and it was very very hard for those small farmers to compete against the big farmers so that’s kind of my thing right now is how can we support those small farmers because we need them just as much as the big,” Jackson said.
Trump touched on many topics, not just agriculture, but also the war in Iran, which he says, when it comes to an end, farmers will benefit from in the long run.
“We are going to come out and your fertilizer prices are going to go way down just like they were four months ago,” President Trump said. “Your fertilizer is down, your energy is down, your gas and oil is coming way down.”
Several Wisconsin politicians were in attendance, as were some sports stars and legends, including Joe Thomas and Jordan Stolz.
“You guys are the backbone of Wisconsin, so I just want to say thank you to all the farmers and everyone who could make it here today and the president,” Stolz, an Olympic gold medalist, said.
President Trump did most of the speaking, endorsing Derrick Van Orden and Tom Tiffany.
“Tom Tiffany is running for governor. He is a winner and he is going to do a great job,” President Trump said.
Derrick Van Orden, who represents Chippewa Falls, says he and the president have big plans that will benefit farmers in Wisconsin.
“We are expanding our trade capacity throughout the world. Now there is going to be some more trade deals announced. There is also a big thing that is going to come out with dairy that I am not going to discuss right now,” Congressman Derrick Van Orden (R-Eau Claire) said.
This is the first time President Donald Trump has been in Wisconsin since 2024