Questioning the manipulation of beef prices, Trump demands the Department of Justice to investigate the American meat processing industry.

President Trump of the United States said on Friday that he had instructed the Justice Department to investigate the U.S. meat processing industry, accusing large meat companies of raising beef prices through "illegal collusion, price manipulation, and price fixing" and "profiting improperly from the American people". "I am asking the Justice Department to take action quickly," Trump wrote on social media. "Consumer protection must be taken immediately, illegal monopolies must be fought, and these companies must not profit through criminal means." Following Trump's remarks, the stock price of the world's largest meat processing company, JBS N.V (JBS.US), fell by 6.2% at one point, narrowing to 3.64% at the close. Tyson Foods, Inc. Class A (TSN.US) fell by 2% at one point, but then reversed the decline. Beyond Meat (BYND.US) rose significantly by 16.81%. In local elections across the United States this week, high cost of living became one of the most important issues for voters. In public opinion surveys on economic governance, Trump's approval ratings were relatively low. His advisory team stated that "affordability" will be a key focus of future policies after the elections. Retail beef prices in the United States have recently reached new highs. Due to high interest rates, rising feed costs, and drought, the number of cattle in the United States has decreased significantly, and replenishing the cattle herd is expected to take several years. Despite this, Trump blamed large meat processing companies. He pointed out that while live cattle prices have fallen significantly recently, the prices of boxed beef have continued to rise, indicating a problem. In another social media post, he wrote, "When live cattle prices drop significantly and boxed beef prices rise, you know something is wrong. We will investigate quickly. If there is criminal wrongdoing, those responsible will pay a heavy price!" Trump's efforts to combat food inflation have also been criticized by some agricultural state allies. He has proposed a significant increase in the tariff-free import of Argentine beef, which has made U.S. ranchers worried that cheaper imported beef will take over the market, leading to a decline in domestic cattle industry income. Meanwhile, Trump's decision to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian products has also affected Brazilian beef exports. Both JBS N.V and another large meat group, Minerva SA, are headquartered in Brazil.