“I have asked the DOJ to immediately begin an investigation into the Meat Packing Companies who are driving up the price of Beef through Illicit Collusion, Price Fixing, and Price Manipulation. We will always protect our American Ranchers, and they are being blamed for what is being done by Majority Foreign Owned Meat Packers, who artificially inflate prices, and jeopardize the security of our Nations food supply. Action must be taken immediately to protect Consumers, combat Illegal Monopolies, and ensure these Corporations are not criminally profiting at the expense of the American People. I am asking the DOJ to act expeditiously. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” @realDonaldTrump

Fact-Check Summary

President Trump’s post urges the DOJ to investigate meat packing companies for alleged illicit price fixing, collusion, and price manipulation, claiming harm to American ranchers and consumers. The claims regarding the DOJ request, existing lawsuits, industry concentration, and partial foreign ownership are factual and documented. Still, the assertion that the Big Four are “majority foreign owned” overstates the ownership structure, and attributing all price inflation solely to price manipulation omits key causes like drought and market cycles.

Belief Alignment Analysis

This post frames concerns about potential corporate malfeasance and market concentration as threats to American food security and fairness. While it draws attention to legitimate legal and economic issues in the beef industry, the rhetoric employs partial overstatements about foreign control and criminality that risk stirring unwarranted suspicion. However, the call for DOJ action is procedurally legitimate and aims to address corporate accountability, a value consistent with democratic oversight.

Opinion

The message raises valid concerns about industry consolidation and anticompetitive practices, reflecting evidence from settlements and legal actions. However, accuracy is compromised by sweeping characterizations regarding ownership and intent. Public dialogue is best served by precise, fact-based advocacy rather than generalizations that may fuel division or undermine confidence in due process.

TLDR

Key facts about DOJ involvement, price-fixing allegations, and partial foreign ownership are substantially true, but the scope of foreign control is exaggerated and the complex causes of higher beef prices are oversimplified in the post.

Claim: Meat packers are driving up beef prices through illicit collusion, are majority foreign-owned, and DOJ must intervene to combat price-fixing and protect the food supply.

Fact: DOJ investigation requests and lawsuits are real; two of the Big Four beef packers are majority foreign-owned, not all four; price-fixing settlements have occurred, but not all price increases are due to manipulation, and “majority foreign owned” is an overstatement.

Opinion: The post highlights legitimate antitrust concerns but stretches facts about industry ownership and the sole cause of price increases, which include natural market and environmental factors.

TruthScore: 7

True: DOJ has been asked to investigate, lawsuits exist, and partial foreign ownership is present. Industry is highly concentrated and settlements regarding price-fixing have occurred.

Hyperbole: “Majority foreign owned” applied to all meatpackers, and implication that all price inflation is due to criminal conduct.

Lies: No clear-cut lies, but several claims are overstated or omit important context, especially around foreign ownership and the causes of higher beef prices.