Fox News contributor Jessica Tarlov is calling out the Trump administration for misleading the public on trade and economic issues, citing exaggerated claims about U.S. soybean sales to China and broader concerns about foreign investment.
Tarlov reposted a CNBC clip on X in which the network pressed Trump administration officials over unmet soybean purchase commitments from China.
In her post, Tarlov stated:
“Reality: the Trump administration has been lying to us about everything from soybeans to foreign investment in America.”
Her comment came in response to a segment involving USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, who was asked about a White House claim that China had agreed to buy 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans by January 2026.
CNBC noted that at the time, China had only purchased about 332,000 metric tons, according to USDA data, and had not confirmed any formal pledge.
Rollins acknowledged the gap but gave a slightly higher figure: “We’re actually about a million and a half metric tons, but your point is still salient, right, that a million and a half of 12 million, we’ve got a significant way to go.”
She said China was expected to finalize deals soon and that purchase orders would likely be submitted before year-end, even if physical shipments occur in early 2026.
“It doesn’t mean we’ll move 12 million metric tons by the end of December,” Rollins explained.
“But it means that those orders will come in according to their commitment and their promise to our president.”
Analysts Cast Doubt on Soybean Promises
However, multiple reports in recent weeks have cast doubt on those claims. Earlier this month, Fortune reported that there is still “no evidence” China is on track to meet the 12 million metric ton target.
Analysts say China has already bought about 40 million metric tons of cheaper soybeans from Brazil and Argentina, creating an oversupply that has depressed prices and weakened any financial incentive to buy more expensive U.S. soybeans.
Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist at StoneX, wrote that China “provided no evidence to support the notion that there will be a substantial increase in state purchases to meet the 12 million metric ton commitment for calendar year 2025 as stated by the White House.”
New Orders After Trump-Xi Call
Despite this, there was a new development this week. According to a Reuters exclusive published earlier today, China purchased at least 10 cargoes of U.S. soybeans worth roughly $300 million, following a phone call between President Trump and President Xi Jinping. The shipments are scheduled for delivery in January.
The deals came despite U.S. soybeans being more expensive than Brazilian alternatives.
Johnny Xiang, founder of Beijing-based AgRadar Consulting, told Reuters, “Commercial buyers will continue to avoid U.S. soybean imports, as prices remain higher than Brazilian beans. At these levels, crush margins are not financially viable.”
Still Short of the Target
The purchases were reportedly led by China’s state-owned grain giant COFCO. While the volume is notable, analysts caution that it still falls short of the 12 million metric ton target announced by the Trump administration.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisted the purchases are happening as planned, stating that Chinese soybean buying is “right on schedule” and citing a broader agreement for China to buy 87.5 million metric tons over three and a half years.
Trust and Transparency at Stake
Still, people are raising questions about how the administration has communicated its trade wins. Critics say there’s a clear gap between what was promised and what’s actually happened.
And with the year almost over, many are wondering if China will even meet the short-term goals laid out by the White House
Jessica Tarlov’s pointed remarks reflect growing skepticism over the Trump administration’s economic claims.
While the White House insists China is honoring its commitments, data from the ground suggests otherwise, and many are beginning to question what else may have been overstated.
As the numbers continue to fall short, so does public trust. And that, Tarlov suggests, may be the bigger problem.