Farmers got about two minutes of airtime during the Democratic presidential candidate debate Wednesday on MSNBC.
South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg was asked whether he would continue the “farm subsidies” that President Trump has authorized to help farmers struggling from the impact of the trade war with China.
“We shouldn’t have to pay farmers to take the edge off of a trade war that shouldn’t have been started in the first place,” said Buttigieg. “I don’t think this president cares one bit about farmers.”
In 90 seconds, Buttigieg brought up small refinery waivers and ethanol, corporate consolidation and climate change, before being interrupted and asked again if he would “continue those subsidies” to farmers. “Yes, but we won’t need them because we’re going to fix the trade war,” he responded.
Listen:
Presidential candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg - farmers, trade, China, ethanol (1:41)