On August 21, 2026, Trump posted the following on Truth Social (bold added for emphasis):

Today, I concluded a deal to substantially lower the price of ground beef for working American families. As everyone knows, under President Biden, beef prices soared at their fastest rate and the American beef herd fell to its smallest size in modern history. As we work to rebuild this herd and help our ranchers, for the next 90 days, the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef to be imported with no out of quota tariff. We have a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices. This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Later in the day, Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

Tucker Carlson just met with Lightweight "Former" Congressman, Thomas Massie, and Marjorie "Traitor" Greene, LOSERS ALL! Tucker's "Views" have fallen through the floor, and will only get worse. Nobody cares about him any longer in that he has become totally irrelevant, and happens to be, surprisingly, a very Low I.Q. individual. He could barely get out of College, and maybe he didn't, but only really dumb people can't make it through that wonderful four year time in life! Tucker wants to run for political office, but he should be required to take a cognitive test. He's got no chance, but could probably take a couple of points away from whatever the Republican ticket happens to be! Tucker is a loser, and always has been! Marjorie Taylor Brown (Green turns to Brown under stress!), a highly neurotic young woman, went from Ultra Conservative to a Liberal "Fool," all in a matter of weeks, because I refused to return her phone calls — Not because I didn't like her, just because I had no time. She was way down in the Polls in Georgia (because I took away my Endorsement), and would have had no chance at winning, so she, just like everyone else, "QUIT!" Thomas Massie has turned out to be a failed politician, and a real JERK. He thought it was really wonderful to vote, "NO," on everything, no matter how good, strong, or proper the Legislation would be. What a team this would be, THREE LOSERS, and a pocketful of change! The only chance they have is to join the Radical Left Dumocrats, and try breaking into the Primary System. To all of them I say, PRAISE BE TO ALLAH! President DONALD J. TRUMP

According to a recent articles on both left-leaning and right-leaning websites, the primary reason for the overall long-term decline in U.S. cattle herds is drought. Other factors include rising costs, international competition, and increased consolidation in the cattle industry.

According to an August 13, 2026 Fox News article entitled "Tyson Foods to close 2 facilities, pursue sale of another amid 'historic' cattle shortage", Tyson Foods just announced that it will close two facilities (Joslin, Illinois, and Eagle Mountain, Utah), and is pursuing the sale of a third facility (Pasco, Washington) as part of "strategic changes" in order to "to create a more competitive footprint amidst one of the most historic cattle shortages the country has ever experienced."

According to that same article:

The U.S. cattle herd has fallen to historically low levels due to drought reducing forage areas in key ranching regions, which forced ranchers to liquidate cattle.

A USDA chart shows that overall, cattle herds have declined steadily over the past 50 years, with herds totaling 132.03 million in 1975 and 86.16 million in 2026.

There was a short-term rise in herds from 2014 (88.24 million) to 2019 (94.66 million). Part of that rise was during the Biden administration where from 2014 through 2016 herds increased from 88.24 million to 91.89 million.

During Trump's first term, from 2017 (93.62 million) to 2020 (93.77 million) herd numbers remained essentially the same. During Trump's second term, from 2024 (87.16 million) to 2026 (86.16 million) herd numbers also remained essentially the same.

Another USDA chart shows that the retail value of Choice beef rose from about $8.51 per pound in August 2024 to $10.49 per pound in July 2026, an increase of about 23%.

Source:

Hernandez, Joe. (May 29, 2026) "Why the U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low — and what it means for beef prices". NPR. Retrieved 2026-08-21.

Macias, Amanda. (August 16, 2026) "A historic shortage is squeezing an American dinner staple and relief could be years away". Fox News. Retrieved 2026-08-21.

House Representative Thomas Massie (Republican-Kentucky) responded on X:

What a slap in the face to American cattlemen & consumers. Worse than socialism! Dumping foreign beef in U.S. markets can temporarily lower prices but it won't incentivize American farmers to raise more beef. Bring back Country Of Origin Labels & pass my PRIME Act.

Former House Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene responded on X:

Here is the paid slop about how the Trump admin is making it even harder for American beef ranchers and producers. Now they will be undercut by foreign imported beef, as they have been hit financially with high cost of fertilizer and diesel from Trump's war with Iran. The Trump admins attempt to lower the cost of beef is American beef LAST and foreign beef FIRST.

Commentary:

It's clear from the statistics and facts I quoted that Trump's claim about Biden is total B.S.

Trump announced the temporary tariff relief now, and specifically for 90 days, because of the November mid-term elections. He did it for politic reasons, in an attempt to make people think that he is doing something to solve a problem that has nothing to do with Biden.

We are 74 days out from the 2026 mid-term elections. Trump's beef tariff pause is for 90 days. Those numbers are about the same. Do you think that's a coincidence? If you say yes, then you are so far down the Trump/MAGA rabbit hole that you will never see the light of day.

How is temporarily pausing beef tariffs going to allow "space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again?"

Answer, it isn't, because the problem goes way, way beyond Trump's simple and deceptive mind.

One thing you can always count on with Trump is that he is constantly obsessed with appearance, politics, and ego.

He paused the tariffs to make it appear he was really helping Americans.

He paused the tariffs in an effort to deceive Americans into thinking he is really helping them, in hopes that the pause will have an impact on the November mid-term elections.

He blamed Biden, first because that's what he ALWAYS does regardless of the facts, and second because he ALWAYS has to do and say things to pump up his self-esteem and his ego, which he ALWAYS does by blaming and denigrating others.

This is just another "gaslighting special" orchestrated by Trump.

It's total B.S.