US President Donald Trump has urged the Justice Department to investigate meat-packing companies, alleging their role in driving up beef prices through ‘illicit collusion, price fixing, and price manipulation.’ Trump’s call for an antitrust probe comes as soaring beef prices have become a political liability, threatening to undermine his promises to reduce food costs for American consumers. The announcement follows Republican losses in key elections, where concerns over the cost of living and Trump’s economic policies bolstered Democratic candidates. Trump has consistently highlighted beef prices as a central issue in his messaging on food inflation. However, his recent proposals to lower prices, including urging ranchers to reduce cattle prices and suggesting increased beef imports from Argentina, have sparked backlash from the ranching community. Ranchers argue that such measures could harm their livelihoods without significantly impacting retail prices. Trump’s latest focus on the meat-packing industry, which is dominated by four major firms—Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef—signals a potential shift in strategy. These companies control over 80% of the beef slaughtering and packing market and have faced lawsuits alleging price manipulation. Government data shows that retail prices for beef mince and steaks have risen by 12.9% and 16.6%, respectively, over the past year, outpacing general food inflation. Economists attribute the price surge to supply constraints, including a decades-long contraction in the cattle industry exacerbated by drought conditions, as well as robust demand for beef. The Biden administration had previously targeted corporate consolidation in the food supply chain, but Trump revoked those measures earlier this year. As the debate over beef prices continues, the investigation into the meat-packing industry could have significant implications for both consumers and producers.