“Sir, Excuse Me!” — CNN’s Brianna Keilar Confronts Rep. Mark Alford Over Farmers’ Costs and Trump’s $12B Bailout

CNN anchor Brianna Keilar pressed Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.) in a tense on-air exchange about rising farm input costs and President Donald Trump’s one-time $12 billion bailout for U.S. producers. Keilar repeatedly asked whether Alford was truly hearing farmers who blame trade policies — especially tensions with China — for driving up prices for fertilizer, seed and other inputs.

The dispute comes as farm leaders including American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland warn that current trade disruptions and input-cost pressures have pushed many producers into their worst economic position in years. Ragland told CNN this week that lower export volumes and higher input costs have left growers struggling to cover losses and secure credit.

Alford Defends the Bailout and Farm Bill Protections

Alford defended the administration's $12 billion aid package as an immediate measure to help farmers access bank loans and rely on protections in the new farm bill. He told Keilar that the payments, combined with safety-net changes in the bill, will help soy, corn and cotton farmers in Missouri and across the country.

This money is going to be used by these soybean farmers, by the cotton farmers in the southeastern part of Missouri, by the corn farmers in Missouri to go and get those loans now from the banks, because they were not going to be able to get these loans based on their losses and the help, the safety nets not being there. We are giving the farmers their safety nets through 80% of the farm bill that was passed through the One Big Beautiful Bill. Those safety nets are there. An increase in reference prices. We are helping the American farmers. Donald J. Trump knows the importance of feeding America and the world, and we’re going to get it done.

Keilar Pushes Back

Keilar pushed back, citing a Missouri constituent who told Alford at a summer town hall that trade tensions with China had sharply increased his supply costs. She also noted Ragland’s point that while China has resumed buying U.S. soybeans after a pause, volumes remain below prior levels — and China remains the largest U.S. buyer.

When Keilar asked whether the administration was grasping that message, Alford responded by blaming President Joe Biden for higher fertilizer and fuel prices, saying it was Biden's policies that drove those costs up. Keilar countered that this did not match the farmer’s account and asked Alford what he would say directly to that constituent.

The interview grew testy as the two spoke over one another at times, with Keilar repeatedly returning to the farmer’s firsthand account and Alford continuing to defend the administration’s approach.

Alford also recounted his town-hall experience, saying he had taken 256 questions from constituents and listened to both criticism and praise. He reiterated that many Missouri farmers support Donald Trump and believe the administration will deliver results.

The exchange illustrates the widening gap between some farm leaders’ concerns about trade and input costs and the administration's message that short-term aid and farm bill changes will stabilize the sector.

Source: CNN segment; Mediaite coverage.