October 23, 2025 10:36 AM UTC

Gabe Evans Meekly Squeaks While Trump Threatens Colorado's Biggest Export

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• by: Colorado Pols

As AP’s Josh Funk and Sara Raza report, President Donald Trump’s latest idea to prop up his friend and ideological touchstone President Javier Milei of Argentina, following a $20 billion bailout of Milei’s controversial economic experimentation, is facing hard pushback from Trump’s usual friends in the beef industry–also known as the state of Colorado’s biggest export commodity:

President Donald Trump ’s plan to cut record beef prices by importing more meat from Argentina is running into heated opposition from U.S. ranchers who are enjoying some rare profitable years and skepticism from experts who say the president’s move probably wouldn’t lead to cheaper prices at grocery stores.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association along with the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America and other farming groups — who are normally some of the president’s biggest supporters — all criticized Trump’s idea because of what it could do to American ranchers and feedlot operators. And agricultural economists say Argentine beef accounts for such a small slice of beef imports — only about 2% — that even doubling that wouldn’t change prices much…

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association ventured as close to a political disavowal of Trump as they politely could:

Cattlemen and women cannot stand behind President Trump while he undercuts the future of family farmers and ranchers by importing Argentinian beef. It is imperative that [President Trump] and [Secretary Rollins] let cattle markets work without interference.

As FOX 31 Denver reports, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association is most displeased with Trump’s attempt to undercut American beef producers with Milei’s politically favored meat:

Colorado cattle producers and state lawmakers are voicing strong opposition after President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. should buy more beef from Argentina to help lower prices for consumers.

Agricultural leaders say the move could undercut American ranchers and threaten the stability of rural economies — including right here in Colorado…

Colorado Democrats representing cattle-producing areas of the state are sounding the alarm:

Colorado lawmakers Dylan Roberts and Karen McCormick released a joint statement calling the idea “reckless,” arguing it could cause chaos in U.S. markets and hurt producers already facing rising costs from tariffs and trade policies.

Sensing the political risk in supporting Trump over Colorado’s biggest export industry, Rep. Gabe Evans gave a typically conflicted statement, maintaining the pretense that Trump cares about Colorado beef producers:

“Weld County leads Colorado and ranks among the top in the nation for agricultural production, raising some of the highest quality beef in the world,” said Congressman Evans. “While Republicans and the Administration have worked to support our producers through efforts like the Working Families Tax Cut Act, the proposal to purchase Argentinian beef raises serious concerns. Colorado farmers and ranchers deserve leaders who will stand with them, especially in the face of Governor Polis and state Democrats’ relentless anti-ag policies. That’s why I’m working with the President to reduce grocery prices and tirelessly advocate for U.S. beef.”

But Trump is not “tirelessly advocating”  for U.S. beef. That’s the whole point. Even while pretending to object to Trump’s actions, Evans is compelled to lavish praise on Trump. Evans cannot question Trump’s motives in propping up the Argentine economy, which is the reason for this decision threatening the American beef industry–even though it runs counter to the administration’s stated objectives in trade relations with just about every other country. Trump’s proposed financial bailout of Argentina is so politically transparent that Trump has openly declared it will only go forward if Milei’s party wins the upcoming elections.

If Gabe Evans was serious about protecting Colorado farmers and ranchers, there’s a lot more he could do to push back against Trump’s policies.

But as long as political loyalty to Trump dictates how far Evans can go to defend his constituents, it won’t happen.