On November 8, 2025, President Donald Trump ignited a political and economic firestorm by calling for a sweeping federal investigation into the U.S. meatpacking industry. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused major—often foreign-owned—meatpacking companies of collusion, price fixing, and price manipulation, claiming these practices have driven beef prices to historic highs and unfairly placed the blame on American ranchers. The move, swiftly confirmed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, signals a renewed focus on food affordability and national security, and comes just days after Republicans suffered losses in several closely watched elections where Democrats campaigned heavily on the cost of living.
"We will always protect our American Ranchers, and they are being blamed for what is being done by Majority Foreign Owned Meat Packers, who artificially inflate prices, and jeopardize the security of our Nation’s food supply," Trump declared on his social media account, as reported by MENAFN. He called for the Department of Justice to act "immediately" and "expeditiously" to safeguard U.S. consumers, combat illegal monopolistic practices, and ensure that these companies are not "criminally profiting" at the expense of Americans.
According to the Texas Farm Bureau, the U.S. cattle herd is now at its lowest level in more than 70 years. This historic contraction in supply, fueled by years of drought and persistently low cattle prices, has collided with strong consumer demand to push retail beef prices to record levels. Ground beef prices have topped $6 per pound, and steak prices have surged by 16.6% over the year ending in September 2025, with ground beef up 12.9% in the same period. The average cost of a pound of ground chuck climbed from $5.58 to $6.33 in September, outpacing the overall food inflation rate of 3.1% for the month, as highlighted by MENAFN and 24NewsHD.
This price surge has been exacerbated by other factors. The Texas Farm Bureau notes that lower imports from Mexico, due to herd pests, have further tightened supply. At the same time, Trump’s own tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter, have curbed imports, intensifying the squeeze. Yet, as Kansas State University’s Glynn Tonsor, who leads the Meat Demand Monitor, told 24NewsHD, demand for beef remains robust. "Prices are high because consumers want to eat it, and they’re willing and able to pay for it," Tonsor explained, suggesting that consumer appetite is a key driver behind the stubbornly high prices.
Trump, however, has cast the issue as a matter of economic fairness and national security. He insists that American ranchers are being scapegoated for price hikes caused by what he characterizes as "illicit collusion, price fixing, and price manipulation" by large meat processors, many of which are majority foreign-owned. "We will always protect our American ranchers," he wrote, as reported by multiple outlets. Trump has gone so far as to accuse these companies of threatening the nation’s food supply, stating they "artificially inflate prices" and "jeopardize the security of our Nation’s food supply."
The political context for Trump’s announcement is hard to ignore. The call for a DOJ probe came just days after Republicans lost ground in several key elections, where affordability and inflation were central issues for voters. According to reporting from 24NewsHD and MENAFN, the move is widely seen as an effort by Trump to refocus his party’s attention on kitchen-table economic issues that resonate with voters. The White House hopes that by targeting a pocketbook concern like beef prices, it can regain lost political ground and reassure consumers that their struggles are being taken seriously.
Attorney General Pam Bondi wasted no time in responding. On X (formerly Twitter), she confirmed that the DOJ’s antitrust division had launched an investigation into the meatpacking industry on November 8, 2025, the same day as Trump’s announcement. The investigation will reportedly examine whether industry giants have engaged in anti-competitive practices that violate federal law. According to 24NewsHD, the so-called "Big Four" meatpackers currently control over 80% of the U.S. beef-processing market, a level of concentration that has long raised eyebrows among farmers, ranchers, and politicians from both major parties.
This isn’t the first time Trump has weighed in on beef prices. Earlier this year, he floated the idea of importing beef from Argentina to help lower costs for U.S. consumers—a suggestion that sparked outrage among domestic cattle associations, who argued it would undermine American ranchers. Trump’s latest move appears designed to mend fences with those ranchers, many of whom were angered by the Argentine proposal. As he reiterated on social media, "We will always protect our American Ranchers."
Despite the high-profile announcement and swift government response, experts are skeptical that a DOJ investigation will bring immediate relief to consumers. As reported by 24NewsHD, a trade group representing meat packers insists they are not to blame for the rising prices, pointing instead to supply-and-demand dynamics. Glynn Tonsor of Kansas State University also noted that the ownership mix in the meatpacking industry has not changed significantly in the past four years, suggesting that structural issues—rather than recent corporate behavior—may be at play. Concentration in the meatpacking business, he added, has been a longstanding concern for both farmers and lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the political fallout continues. Trump’s decision to frame the probe as a matter of national security and consumer protection is a calculated gamble, one that seeks to harness public frustration over food prices while deflecting blame from U.S. ranchers. Whether the DOJ investigation uncovers evidence of wrongdoing, or simply confirms what many economists already believe—that drought, herd contraction, and robust demand are the main culprits—remains to be seen.
For now, American consumers are left to grapple with sticker shock at the grocery store, while ranchers and meatpackers alike brace for the scrutiny that will come with a federal antitrust probe. As the investigation unfolds, the debate over who or what is to blame for soaring beef prices is likely to intensify, with significant implications for politics, policy, and the dinner table alike.
With both the stakes and the prices high, all eyes are on the Justice Department as it begins its probe into one of the nation’s most vital—and contentious—food industries.
