As trade tensions with China continue to simmer, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed the Trump administration is preparing to support farmers whose livelihoods are at risk due to the ongoing trade war.

Rollins said during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union that while the administration hopes a bailout won’t be necessary, plans are in place to act swiftly if agricultural exports take a significant hit.

“We are watching it and analyzing it every single day,” Rollins explained, noting that administration officials are in constant communication with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to secure funding if needed.

This isn’t the first time Trump has acted to protect American farmers. In 2018, during his first term, the administration rolled out a $28 billion bailout to support farmers impacted by retaliatory Chinese tariffs. That assistance provided critical financial relief to producers of commodities like soybeans and pork.

Now, with China trade tensions once again rising, farmers are split on whether another bailout is the right move.

“We hope there will be a bailout,” Barry Evans, a sorghum and cotton farmer in Texas, told the Wall Street Journal. “If we don’t get something, it will be quite a disaster.” Nearly 90% of sorghum exports went to China last year, making Evans’ operation particularly vulnerable.

On the other hand, Josh Gackle, chairman of the American Soybean Association, expressed a different view. While he said soybean farmers want “access to a free and fair trade market” instead of government handouts, he acknowledged the need for some relief if tariffs continue to bite. “We hope the Trump administration can find a way to address the financial impact on our farms,” Gackle said.

Beyond the bailout discussion, Rollins shared some positive news for American consumers. Wholesale egg prices have dropped by 58% in just six weeks, she said, a shift that should soon translate into lower prices at the grocery store.

“The actual wholesale cost of eggs is down, and the retail cost will soon follow,” Rollins announced, signaling some relief for households still battling food inflation.

The Trump administration’s aggressive trade policies, especially against China, have been a major feature of the president’s economic strategy. Trump has long argued that tariffs on foreign goods not only protect American industries but also generate new revenue that can be used to cut taxes and reinvest in U.S. manufacturing and agriculture.

While critics claim tariffs hurt farmers by triggering retaliation from countries like China, Trump and his team maintain that short-term pain is necessary to achieve long-term gains — such as reducing America’s trade deficit and forcing China to play by fairer rules.

As the situation with China evolves, all eyes are now on the administration’s next move. If new tariffs expand and Chinese retaliation intensifies, a second farm bailout could become a reality much sooner than expected.

For now, Rollins emphasized that the White House remains committed to standing by American farmers — whether that means fighting for better trade deals or ensuring no farmer is left behind when markets tighten.

With rural America playing a critical role in Trump’s political coalition, ensuring the economic health of farmers remains a top priority as the 2026 midterms approach.