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3471Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins appeared Sunday on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ with Jake Tapper, where she discussed President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs and claimed the European Union is blocking U.S. agricultural exports using what she called “fake science.”
“They are using fake science and unsubstantiated claims to not take our products,” Rollins said, adding that it’s not just about high tariffs, but also how American food products are treated overseas.
“Oh sorry, we can’t take your beef since 2002 because you use a certain type of feed. That’s just absolute bull.”
Accusations Against the EU
Rollins pointed to policies in the European Union that limit imports of U.S. pork and beef, arguing the reasons given have no real scientific basis. “We produce the safest, the most secure, the best food in the world,” she said.
She also dismissed criticism from conservative economists at the American Enterprise Institute who say the new tariff rates were calculated using retail instead of import prices, resulting in rates four times too high.
“They’re just wrong,” Rollins said. “I have 100% faith in the formulas that they used,” Rollins said, referring to Jameson Greer, Howard Lutnick, and Scott Bessent, whom she described as some of the smartest economists and businessmen “on our side.”
Defending Trump’s Tariffs
The interview followed President Trump’s rollout of what Rollins called a “new American economic order,” which centers around broad tariffs aimed at reshaping global trade and putting U.S. industries first.
Trump allies have framed the move as a return to foundational principles of economic protectionism.
“This started in 1791 with Alexander Hamilton,” Rollins said. “For 150 years, America protected its goods. That’s when America went from a frontier country to the world’s largest, most exceptional economic power.”
When Tapper pressed her about the uncertainty and panic in financial markets, Rollins responded, “Anytime you’ve got a strong leader who’s looking at the long term… the markets are adjusting.”
Concerns From Farmers and Lawmakers
Critics, including Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), worry about the toll on American farmers.
“Anyone who says there may be a little bit of pain before we get things right needs to talk about farmers who are one crop away from bankruptcy,” Tillis said.
Rollins acknowledged there will be short-term pain but said financial aid could be available if needed.
“We will make sure that we have the funds, working with the senators and appropriators, to do what we did last time,” she said, referring to billions in aid distributed during Trump’s first term to offset losses from earlier tariffs.
That aid has already begun. Just days after President Trump claimed tariffs would generate enormous national wealth—”We’re going to become so rich we’re not going to know where to spend that money,” he said, the Department of Agriculture authorized $10 billion in emergency income subsidies for farmers.
Rollins confirmed the bailout, saying it was designed to “mitigate any economic catastrophes” as a result of the new tariffs.
This has drawn criticism from experts and watchdog groups questioning why internal taxpayer money is needed to patch economic fallout if tariffs are truly bringing in external revenue.
Much of the aid is being drawn from the Commodity Credit Corporation, which can borrow up to $30 billion from the U.S. Treasury.
Farmers, already struggling with input costs and market uncertainty, face an uphill battle as countries like China and the European Union threaten retaliation, further complicating global trade for American agriculture.
A Push for Economic Revival and Global Leverage
The new tariffs are part of what Rollins described as a broader push to support not just agriculture, but also U.S. manufacturing and energy sectors. “We are unleashing a new golden age,” she said.
“And we will see an economy that will benefit not just every corner of America, but our farmers and our ranchers and the people that have been left behind for far too long.”
While it remains unclear how long the current tariff strategy will last, Rollins said the White House has already heard from 50 countries willing to negotiate. “This is the ultimate dealmaker,” she said of Trump.
“We’re gonna put America first. He will do everything in his power all day, every day, to do just that.”
Still, critics argue that Rollins’ optimism is out of step with economic reality. Markets have reacted sharply, major trade partners are preparing retaliatory measures, and American taxpayers are already footing the bill for bailouts.
For all the talk of a “golden age,” what’s emerging so far is a growing tab—one that suggests the true costs of these tariffs may be far higher than advertised.
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