In a speech to what he called “the single largest gathering of American farmers that the White House has … ever had,” President Donald Trump distorted the facts on the estate tax, soybean exports and more.
Trump Fumbles the Facts with Farmers
Issues: agriculture
FactChecking Haley’s Claim on China, U.S. Farmland and Military Installations
Nikki Haley said China bought 400,000 acres of U.S. farmland “near our military installations.” Chinese investors own a total of 383,935 acres, or about 1% of foreign-held agricultural land in the U.S. It’s not the amount near U.S. military installations.
Trump Exaggerates China Trade Impact on Farmers
At his rally in Iowa, President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the new trade agreement with China “will boost American agriculture by $50 billion every year.” China agreed to increase agricultural purchases by $12.5 billion this year and $19.5 billion next year compared with 2017 levels.
Trump Wrong on U.S. Agriculture Exports to China
In announcing “phase one” of a tentative trade deal with China, President Donald Trump wrongly stated that the “all-time high” for U.S. agricultural exports to China was “$16 or $17 billion.” Actually, it was nearly $26 billion in 2012.
FactChecking Trump’s Pitch to Farmers
In his much publicized visit to Iowa, President Donald Trump made a few false and misleading statements about agricultural exports.
Video: FactChecking Trump’s Farming Claims
In this fact-checking video, CNN’s Jake Tapper reviews President Donald Trump’s false claims about the impact of trade on U.S. farmers.
Trump Distorts Facts on Agricultural Trade
In a Fox Business interview, President Donald Trump singled out trade barriers as a reason for five “very bad years” for U.S. farmers. But agricultural economists blame low farm commodity prices — not trade barriers.
CO2: Friend or Foe to Agriculture?
Rep. Lamar Smith said climate change “alarmists” ignore the “positive impacts” of more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, such as increased food production and quality. But the impact of increased CO2 levels on agriculture is more complicated than that — and, on balance, likely negative, particularly in the future.