Fact-checking Donald Trump’s call for an investigation into meatpacking companies

Cattle graze at a ranch near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on March 4, 2024 (Ben Felder/Investigate Midwest).

Last month, President Trump directed the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the nation’s largest meatpacking companies for potential collusion and price fixing.

“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,” Trump said in a social media post .

On Nov. 7, the White House published four claims in support of the investigation. Investigate Midwest fact-checked those claims.

Claim: The Trump administration stated, “The ‘Big Four’ meat packers — JBS (Brazil), Cargill, Tyson Foods, and National Beef — currently dominate 85% of the U.S. beef processin