Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 6
Trump Campaigns for Van Orden in Wisconsin's 3rd District as Farmers Face 25% Higher Costs
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 6

Trump Campaigns for Van Orden in Wisconsin's 3rd District as Farmers Face 25% Higher Costs

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 6

Summary

  • Wisconsin's competitive 3rd Congressional District drew Trump to a rural farm event aimed at boosting Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a Republican who narrowly won the seat in 2024.
  • Trump told supporters he "could be home" at the White House watching television, but said he came because he liked the farmer — underscoring a personal pitch to a constituency strained by his policies.
  • Farmers in western Wisconsin have been hit by Trump's tariffs and fuel-price increases tied to the Iran war; an earlier report said fertilizer costs were up more than 25% and diesel prices were near records.
  • The race appears tight enough that multiple administration officials have visited the district, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a nearby Van Orden event earlier this week.

Insights

As new trade deals emerge, will US farmers ever reclaim the global market share permanently lost to competitors like Brazil?
With farm debt at a record high, can new biofuel rules truly offset the crippling costs of fuel and fertilizer?