Trump Proposes Deregulating Meat Processing, Sparks Safety Concerns

President Donald Trump has proposed a plan to allow farmers and ranchers to slaughter and process their own meat without USDA inspection, a move that critics warn could undermine food safety standards. The proposal, announced Friday on Truth Social, follows an interview Trump conducted Wednesday with conservative commentator Glenn Beck, who owns a cattle ranch and has criticized the meat-processing industry.

Trump described the four major meat-processing companies— Tyson Foods, Cargill Incorporated, JBS, and National Beef—as a "nasty Monopoly" controlling 85% of the market. He stated he would expedite legal steps to permit on-farm slaughter and processing, bypassing USDA-inspected facilities. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association immediately opposed the plan, emphasizing that weakening federal inspection standards could jeopardize consumer trust and food safety.

"America’s cattle producers have earned consumer trust in U.S. beef over generations," the association stated. "That trust, and the gold standard food safety system behind it, shouldn’t be put at risk for a short-term political fix."

The announcement comes amid rising beef prices, a shrinking cattle herd, and economic hardship for Midwest farmers, many of whom are longtime Trump supporters. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice launched an antitrust investigation into the meatpacking industry, while the USDA allocated $60 million to support smaller processors.

Elsewhere, far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana, according to reports. Yiannopoulos, who has worked as a spokesperson for Kanye West, was taken into custody at an airport and is being held in a detention facility. Right-wing activist Laura Loomer claimed credit for the arrest, asserting that she had previously reported Yiannopoulos to ICE for allegedly inciting violence against President Trump and for being in the U.S. illegally.

Yiannopoulos, known for his history of racist and xenophobic rhetoric, has recently expressed support for Muslims, which has drawn criticism from Loomer and others. He gained prominence through the Gamergate controversy and formerly worked as an editor for Breitbart under Steve Bannon. His reputation suffered a major blow in 2017 after video clips surfaced of him defending sexual relationships between adults and minors.

In a separate development, Trump posted an image on Truth Social Thursday night depicting the flags of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands alongside U.S. territories and a map of the Strait of Hormuz labeled “new.” Both Pacific island nations have Compacts of Free Association (CFA) with the U.S., granting them financial aid and military access in exchange for sovereignty. Trump’s post suggested an intention to assert U.S. control, though it remains unclear why these nations were included or why Palau, another CFA partner, was omitted.

Relations between the U.S. and these Pacific nations have deteriorated during Trump’s second term due to understaffing of key diplomatic positions. Analysts warn that such neglect could push Micronesia and the Marshall Islands closer to China.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has signaled a selective approach to refugee admissions. According to insiders, white South African refugees entering the U.S. beginning October 1 could receive $4,500 in federal aid—nearly double the $2,425 allotted to other refugees. While technically available to all, U.S. data indicates that over 99% of refugee arrivals in 2026 have been white South Africans.

Trump has repeatedly and without evidence claimed that white South Africans face a “white genocide” in post-apartheid South Africa, a narrative widely debunked. Research shows that homicide victims in South Africa are predominantly Black or mixed-race men from low-income backgrounds.