Trump calls for the end of China buying U.S. farmland despite increases under his presidency

Former President Donald Trump has recently called for restrictions on Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland despite a massive increase in ownership during his presidency.

Earlier this year, Trump released a video promoting his 2024 presidential run, where he condemned U.S. politicians, including the “Biden crime family,” for allowing the Chinese government to invest in several American economic sectors including farmland.

“We should stop all future Chinese purchases in these essential industries, and we should begin the process of forcing the Chinese to sell any current holdings that put our national security at risk,” Trump said. “If we don’t do this, the United States will be owned by China, which would make them very happy. When I’m president, I will ensure that America’s future remains firmly in American hands, just as I did when I was president before.”

However, despite his claims, the Chinese purchasing of U.S. farmland increased significantly while Trump was president. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, China had ownership takes in 352,140 acres of U.S. farmland by the end of Trump’s presidency in 2020. In 2017, the number of acres was 246,966.

Despite these figures showing his hypocrisy, and his failure to lay out a tangible strategy, Trump seems adamant that another term under his leadership will decrease the amount of Chinese investments in U.S. farmland.

Many of Trump’s primary opponents, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, along with possible vice-presidential choice Kristi Noem, have also condemned this trend and called for restrictions on foreign investments in farmland. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who announced his candidacy for president on Wednesday, signed a bill earlier this month cracking down on foreign land investments in his state.

This issue will likely be a topic of debate during the primaries, with Trump’s opponents eager to get a leg up on the former president. Trump is still polling ahead of everyone on the Republican side, with DeSantis having the smallest gap at around a 30-percentage-point differential.