President Donald Trump is scheduled to formally announce his reelection bid Tuesday night. Democrats are already after the Republican to answer more questions about his policy on tariffs. Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is one of the questioners.
President Trump tweeted this month that:
MEXICO HAS AGREED TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN BUYING LARGE QUANTITIES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT FROM OUR GREAT PATRIOT FARMERS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2019
The President made the claim following talks with Mexico, over his controversial policies on tariffs and immigration. Trump has backed off on plans to impose tariffs on goods from Mexico.
But the Republican suggested in return, Mexico would buy more from U.S. farmers, presumably including dairy farmers in Wisconsin. Democratic Baldwin says she's still waiting for specifics on just how the state's agricultural community would benefit.
“I'm fearful this was a fabrication. And that's pretty harsh words, but I want the president to know how hard things are for farmers, and that his policies have a lot to do with it," Baldwin told WUWM, during a one-on-one interview on Saturday.
READ: How Tariffs Are Affecting Wisconsin Dairy & Cheese
Baldwin has put her questions into the form of a letter to President Trump.
She says she doesn't think the Trump administration's dealings with Mexico on tariffs and immigration are having a positive effect at the U.S.-Mexican border.
Baldwin says the way the president is treating Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador — three of the main countries from which refugees are entering Mexico on the way to the U.S. — may backfire.
"I think we have to look at the source causes. And, when President Trump says that he wants to cut our diplomatic and political outreach with those countries, that's probably going to make things even worse," Baldwin said.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, has often disagreed with the president on tariffs. But after the trade talks with Mexico finished, Johnson told Fox News that the president is using tariffs as leverage in immigration negotiations, and has used them "brilliantly."
With his reelection bid about to formally get underway, the president will likely make his own case on tariffs and immigration during campaign rallies.
