Aaron Flint Praised Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Even After She Defended Trump’s Decision To Import More Beef From Argentina, Undermining Montana Ranchers

February 2026: Flint Praised Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins And Posed For A Photo With Her

February 2026: Flint Said It Was “An Honor” To See Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins In Person. FLINT: “Now stepping up the microphone, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. Madame Secretary, what an honor to get to see you in person. I know a ton of our Montana farmers and ranchers have been back here to see you and now we get to see you as well.” ROLLINS: “Oh I love it. It’s so great to have you. Welcome to the White House.” [Montana Talks, 00:00, 2/25/26] (AUDIO)

• February 2026: Flint Interviewed Rollins At The White House. FLINT: “Now stepping up the microphone, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. Madame Secretary, what an honor to get to see you in person. I know a ton of our Montana farmers and ranchers have been back here to see you and now we get to see you as well.” ROLLINS: “Oh I love it. It’s so great to have you. Welcome to the White House.” [Montana Talks, 00:00, 2/25/26] (AUDIO)

February 2026: Flint Posed For A Photo With Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins At The White House, Saying “Great Catching Up With Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins.” “Great catching up with Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins at the White House today.” [Aaron Flint, Facebook, 2/25/26]

Image: see original report, p. 20

[Aaron Flint, Facebook, 2/25/26]

October 2025: Rollins Defended Trump’s Decision To Quadruple Beef Imports From Argentina

October 2025: Trump Quadrupled Beef Imports To The U.S. From Argentina. “U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is quadrupling the country's low-tariff imports of Argentine beef in his attempt to lower grocery store beef prices, a White House official said on Thursday, evoking fury from the nation's cattle ranchers. Raising the tariff rate quota on Argentine beef to 80,000 metric tons will let the country ship more of its beef to the U.S. at a lower rate of duty. U.S. beef prices have set records due to tight cattle supplies and strong consumer demand.” [Reuters, 10/24/25]

• Reuters Headline: “Trump To Quadruple Argentine Beef Imports While US Ranchers Fume.” [Reuters, 10/24/25]

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Said The Administration Was Working To Support Both Beef Consumers And Ranchers. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday announced a plan to expand the domestic cattle herd and support American cattle ranchers. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Fox Business Network's ‘Mornings with Maria’ said the administration was working to support both beef consumers and ranchers.” [Reuters, 10/24/25]

Cattlemen’s Groups In Montana And Nationally Warned About The Danger Of Importing Beef On American Ranchers’ Livelihoods The Montana Cattlemen’s Association Warned That Importing Beef Could Push Down Price Producers Receive For Their Cattle

The Montana Cattlemen’s Association Warned That Importing Beef From Argentina Could Affect Producers. “The White House signed an executive order on February 6th expanding the amount of beef the United States can import from Argentina, a move aimed at increasing supply and easing pressure on beef prices, but one that has drawn concern from cattle producers in Montana and across the country. […] Producer organizations, such as the Montana Cattlemen’s Association and the Montana Stockgrowers Association, say they don’t expect the expanded imports to significantly lower prices for consumers immediately, but warn the decision could still affect producers.” [KRTV, 2/10/26]

Western District Director Of The Montana Cattlemen’s Association Tim Brunner Said Imported Beef Could Put Downward Pressure On Price Producers Receive For Their Cattle. “Tim Brunner, the western district director of the Montana Cattlemen’s Association and a producer out of Fairfield, says the additional imports are unlikely to make a noticeable difference at the meat counter. Brunner says while imported lean beef trimmings are primarily used in ground products, blending foreign beef into the supply chain could still put downward pressure on what producers receive for their cattle.” [KRTV, 2/10/26]

The Montana Stockgrowers Association Raised Concerns About Production Standards Of Importing Beef

Montana Stockgrowers Association President Lesley Robinson Raised Production Standards Concerns About Relying More Heavily On Imported Beef. “The Montana Stockgrowers Association echoed those concerns, noting that even modest changes in imports can influence markets. Association President Lesley Robinson said cattle markets are highly sensitive to policy announcements and that producers may feel the effects before consumers do. Robinson also raised concerns about relying more heavily on imported beef, citing differences in traceability and production standards compared to U.S. beef. ‘We raise a very healthy, safe product in the United States,’ Robinson said, adding that maintaining confidence in domestic beef remains a priority for producers.” [KRTV, 2/10/26]

• Robinson: “We Raise A Very Healty, Safe Product In The United States.” “‘We raise a very healthy, safe product in the United States,’ Robinson said, adding that maintaining confidence in domestic beef remains a priority for producers.” [KRTV, 2/10/26]

National Cattlemen’s Groups Criticized Trump’s Plan To Import Beef From Argentina, Warning It Would “Undercut The Very Foundation Of Our Cattle Industry”

U.S. Farmers Criticized Trump’s Suggestion To Import More Beef From Argentina. “U.S. farmers on Monday criticized President Donald Trump's suggestion that the country may import more beef from Argentina, after they recently lost out to the South American nation on soybean sales to top buyer China.” [Reuters, 10/20/25]

U.S. Cattlemen’s Association President: “A Deal Of This Magnitude With Argentina Would Undercut The Very Foundation Of Our Cattle Industry.” “U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is quadrupling the country's low-tariff imports of Argentine beef in his attempt to lower grocery store beef prices, a White House official said on Thursday, evoking fury from the nation's cattle ranchers. […] ‘A deal of this magnitude with Argentina would undercut the very foundation of our cattle industry,’ said Justin Tupper, a South Dakota cattle producer and president of the United States Cattlemen's Association.” [Reuters, 10/24/25]

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association: “This Plan Only Creates Chaos At A Critical Time Of The Year For American Cattle Producers, While Doing Nothing To Lower Grocery Store Prices.” “U.S. farmers on Monday criticized President Donald Trump's suggestion that the country may import more beef from Argentina, after they recently lost out to the South American nation on soybean sales to top buyer China. […] Cattle producers saw the suggestion as a threat to their livelihoods and free markets, at a time when ranchers are profiting from sky-high livestock prices and strong consumer demand. ‘This plan only creates chaos at a critical time of the year for American cattle producers, while doing nothing to lower grocery store prices,’ said Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association industry group.” [Reuters, 10/20/25]

Cattle, Montana’s Top Commodity, Made Up 56% Of Montana’s Agricultural Market Value

2017: Cattle Made Up 56% Of Montana’s Total Agricultural Market Value. “The share of market value for crops and livestock has remained relatively stable since 1997 with crop and livestock shares of 40% and 60%, respectively. Grain (winter wheat, spring wheat, durum, and barley) comprised 31% of total market value, while cattle comprised 56% of total market value in 2017 (Chart 1).” [Montana State University Extension, Economic Impact of Agriculture Statewide Report, December 2020]

2013-2021: Cattle Receipts Were The Highest Ranking Commodity In Montana. “Cattle receipts have been the highest ranking commodity in Montana since 2013. In 2021, $442,027 or 40% more than wheat receipts, the next highest commodity.” [National Agricultural Statistics Service, Montana Agriculture Facts, April 2023]

2021: Montana Produced More Than $1.8 Billion In Livestock. “$1,844,927,000 The value of livestock production in Montana in 2021.” [National Agricultural Statistics Service, Montana Agriculture Facts, April 2023]