Are Trump, Musk, and Republicans Following in the Footsteps of Dictators and Intentionally Starving Millions of Americans?

When Lenin and Mao took power of Russia and China respectively, their authoritarian policies led to mass starvation. Their egos and delusions blinded them to the catastrophic failures of their policies, and millions of people died as a result. While the U.S. isn’t experiencing famine on that scale—yet—Trump, Elon Musk, and their Republican allies are making decisions that could collapse our farming industry and endanger food security for millions of Americans. But the question remains, is it intentional?

Shutting Down USAID: A Direct Hit to American Farmers

Now, before you immediately dismiss the idea, consider the evidence.  One glaring piece of evidence is the shutdown of USAID. This program purchased nearly $2 billion worth of crops from U.S. farmers annually, providing a stable market for American agriculture. With no plan to compensate these farmers or secure alternative buyers, farmers are left stranded. In fact, I’ve reached out multiple times to my Republican congressional representative, Nick Langworthy, but have received no response about assisting impacted farmers. That means there is no plan to help. Without USAID, food prices will skyrocket, and countless hardworking farmers will lose their livelihoods. To learn more about this crucial farming issue, you can read my article on the topic here: Republicans Just Sent a Giant “F** You” to American Farmers — And They Don’t Care.

Musk justified the shutdown with the baseless claim that USAID was a “terrorist entity.” Yet, neither Musk, Trump, nor any Republican has provided a single shred of evidence to support this. Why? Because there is none. USAID’s real “crime” was investigating Musk’s shady dealings in war-torn Ukraine, so in an act of petty revenge, he shut it down.

But is this just Musk settling a personal grudge? Or is it the first calculated step in a broader Republican effort to collapse the entire farming industry?

Firing Vital USDA Workers: Undermining Food Safety and Security

In another reckless move, Musk and Trump fired essential USDA workers—the people responsible for inspecting food, ensuring its safety, and protecting crops from disease and pests. A severely understaffed USDA means crops will rot in fields before they can be inspected, causing financial devastation for farmers.

Even worse, USDA staff also monitored crops for pests and diseases and provided preventive services to avoid outbreaks. We all saw how the avian flu caused egg prices to skyrocket. The same could happen to crops due to an unchecked pest or disease. Without proper oversight and prevention, entire harvests could be wiped out, driving food prices even higher. Yet, those responsible refuse to even acknowledge the problem.

The U.S. already has lower food safety standards than other developed countries. American soil mismanagement means our crops contain fewer nutrients than those grown in Europe. Worse, many U.S. products—including arsenic-laced chicken—are outright banned in Europe. That’s right: American chicken farmers feed their chickens arsenic-laced feed additives, which then end up in our food supply, and ultimately, inside the consumer. But I digress. That’s just one example of America’s substandard quality of products.

If our standards are already dangerously low, why are Republicans pushing policies that will make them even worse?

Cutting Aid to Food Banks: A Death Sentence for Small Farmers and Low-Income Families

Further compounding the crisis, Republicans have cut all aid to food banks and banned them from purchasing food from local farmers. This will strip small farmers of at least another $1 billion in profits, putting many small farmers at risk of loosing their business, while simultaneously starving low-income families. And when local markets lose their most reliable buyers, the entire agricultural system suffers, further jeopardizing the availability of affordable, nutritious food for all Americans, no matter their wealth or status.

There is no way to interpret this move as anything but deliberate cruelty. Cutting aid to food banks serves no economic purpose—it doesn’t “save” money in any meaningful way. The only reason to do it is to starve the poorest and most vulnerable Americans.

Tariffs and International Trade

Trump’s reckless tariffs are another nail in the coffin for American farmers. By limiting exports and triggering retaliatory tariffs from other nations, these policies prevent farmers from selling their goods internationally. Many U.S. farmers face the prospect of losing key export markets, which could force them out of business. This additional pressure not only increases domestic food prices but also threatens the long-term viability of American agriculture.

Trump has convinced himself that tariffs will somehow “help” America, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. But like a toddler throwing a tantrum, he does not care how many farms he destroys in the process, as long as he gets his way.

Gutting the SBA: Wiping Out Small Farmers and Businesses

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a lifeline for small farmers, providing:

• Disaster recovery assistance (so one bad event, like long waits for inspections, won’t devestate their business)
• Low-interest loans with flexible terms (so they aren’t forced into predatory loans)
• Export assistance (helping farmers sell goods abroad)
• Business development grants (funding innovation and rural economic growth)
• Services free or low of cost, including mentorship and training programs (giving farmers the tools to compete)

By gutting the SBA, Republicans are stripping small farmers of the resources they need to survive, leaving them defenseless against corporate agriculture giants. They’ve created a system where farmers could lose their entire crop while waiting for inspection—only to have nowhere to turn for disaster recovery assistance to save their farm. Small businesses are essential to a healthy economy. They create jobs, often at higher wages than corporations, and foster competition that keeps prices fair for consumers. Without the SBA’s vital programs and services, countless small farmers will go out of business, leading to millions of lost jobs and even higher food prices for everyone.

Republicans openly admit they want the SBA gone—this is part of Project 2025, their authoritarian blueprint for the future. Their justification? They don’t have one. They spew vague nonsense about “efficiency” while deliberately crippling small businesses to benefit billionaires and corporations.

Is Starving Americans Intentional?

Trump and Republicans have openly stated that grocery prices will rise, and that they don’t intend to do anything about it. They know that cutting food bank aid will starve people. They know that slashing Social Security and Medicaid will increase homelessness and hunger. And they do not care about any of that.

Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that all of these devastating blows to the farming economy, especially small, local farmers, are intentional. And why would they want a starving population suffering from malnutrition? Because a starving population, one fighting just to survive, is easier to control.

Conclusion: The Collapse of American Farming and Food Security

Farmers are the backbone of this country, yet Trump, Musk, and their Republican allies are deliberately driving American agriculture into the ground. Shutting down USAID, firing USDA workers, cutting food bank aid, imposing reckless tariffs, and dismantling the SBA are not random acts of incompetence. They are calculated moves designed to collapse our food system.

Historically, dictators like Lenin and Mao did not intend to starve their people—their delusions blinded them to the consequences of their policies. Republicans, on the other hand, know exactly what they are doing. They know their actions will cause mass starvation and economic devastation, and they simply do not care.

No, strike that. They relish it.

Sources:

By the numbers: Stacking up US farm imports and exports | Reuters

US farmers face higher costs, fewer markets from tariffs, farm groups warn | Reuters

Rural Loan Information | Farmers.gov

Rural Business | SBA.gov

These American Meat Products Are Banned Abroad | HuffPost

Disclaimer: This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.

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