2026 Iowa GOP candidates put Argentina, Silicon Valley  donors, and party loyalty before Iowa agriculture

First, Donald Trump prioritized selling TikTok to campaign donors and rich buddies before discussing the urgent need for additional soybean sales for Iowa farmers. 

Then, the Administration prioritized a bailout for Argentina’s President and Elon Musk’s buddy, Javier Milei – putting Iowa taxpayers on the hook for $20 billion – while Argentina is flooding the soybean market. The American Soybean Association directly rebuked the Administration:

“U.S. soybean farmers have been clear for months: the administration needs to secure a trade deal with China. China is the world’s largest soybean customer and typically our top export market. The U.S. has made zero sales to China in this new crop marketing year due to 20% retaliatory tariffs imposed by China in response to U.S. tariffs. This has allowed other exporters, Brazil and now Argentina, to capture our market at the direct expense of U.S. farmers. The frustration is overwhelming. U.S. soybean prices are falling, harvest is underway, and farmers read headlines not about securing a trade agreement with China, but that the U.S. government is extending $20 billion in economic support to Argentina while that country drops its soybean export taxes to sell 20 shiploads of Argentine soybeans to China in just two days.”

Earlier this week, Chuck Grassley and Mike Naig spoke to the urgent need for additional soybean sales, but Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Zach Nunn have been entirely silent. 

Soybeans closed Thursday at $9.34 per bushel in Iowa, almost two full dollars below Iowa State’s 2025 estimated cost of production. 

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart released the following statement on Donald Trump’s foreign policy failing Iowa farmers:

“Donald Trump, Ashley Hinson, Randy Feenstra, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Zach Nunn are putting Iowa agriculture, the engine of our economy, last this harvest season. Iowans are already hurting and Iowa Republicans’ silence is putting Argentina, Silicon Valley donors, and party loyalty over Iowa. We need new, independent-minded leadership to get our state growing again.” 

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