It’s not ‘America First,’ it’s Trump first

Denise Bubeck, president of the Iowa Federation of Republican Women, would have us believe that Donald Trump is the best thing that's ever happened for Iowa farmers ("Trump's visit reminded Iowa what America First delivers" Feb. 14). She says his "policies meant standing up for fair trade and open markets instead of surrendering them." His tariffs and trade wars have actually pulled the rug out from under them, most notably by surrendering their soybean market with China. Now he's asked American taxpayers for a $12 billion bailout, which isn't enough to undo the damage.

Next, he proposes to give his Argentine friends tariff-free entry for 80,000 tons of "lean beef trimmings." This will deal a body blow to iowa cattle producers, and they haven't been shy about saying so.

Since Trump thinks a merger between the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railways "sounds good," Bubeck is on board with that, too. Just what Iowa's farmers need, right? More consolidation of power in grain transport?

America's family farms are in trouble. Bankruptcies are on the rise again, as are farmer suicides. We now have more farmers over the age of 75 than under the age of 35, and no concept of how to change that situation.

Bubeck uses the words America First throughout her column, but the record is clear: it's really Trump First, as he, his family, friends, and contributors enrich themselves in what is clearly the most corrupt administration in our country's history.

Jim Walters

Iowa City