In response to new reporting highlighting John Deere’s latest rounds of layoffs as a direct consequence of Trump’s chaotic trade policies, DNC Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman released the following statement: 

“Time and time again, Donald Trump has promised to help hardworking farmers to secure their vote, just to kick them to the curb and serve his billionaire buddies once in office. Now, Trump’s reckless tariffs are forcing mass layoffs from John Deere — a cornerstone of our rural agricultural industry. Under Trump’s watch, the odds of a rural recession are climbing. Let’s be clear: rural America is crumbling apart and local economies are being decimated, leaving family and small farmers to bear the brunt of his reckless tariffs — and Trump is to blame.” 

John Deere — a leading agricultural manufacturer — announced it would be laying off over 200 employees across Iowa and Illinois, citing financial woes created by Trump’s erratic trade policies. 

Des Moines Register: “John Deere has announced layoffs at three of its manufacturing facilities in Iowa and Illinois following a gloomy earnings report.

“The company said Monday, Aug. 18, that it will be laying off 71 workers at its foundry in Waterloo effective Sept. 19. In addition, it will be laying off 167 workers in the Illinois side of the Quad Cities: 115 from its harvester works in East Moline, effective Aug. 29, and 52 from its seeding and cylinder works in Moline, effective Sept. 26. 

“‘As stated on our most recent earnings call, the struggling ag economy continues to impact orders for John Deere equipment. This is a challenging time for many farmers, growers and producers, and directly impacts our business in the near term,’ the company said in its statement.

“In its earnings report, the company noted that President Donald Trump’s tariffs have added to the woes of farm-equipment makers who already were grappling with slow demand.

“The company’s net sales fell about 9% to $10.36 billion from a year ago, more than analysts’ estimates of $10.31 billion.”

Trump’s reckless, anti-farmer trade war is ravaging American agriculture and steering the crops sector to the brink of a recession, forcing family farmers into bankruptcy.  

Bloomberg Law: “Trump Policies Add To Farming Distress As Bankruptcies Increase”

Bloomberg: “Trade Wars, Rates Push US Small Farm Bankruptcies to 5-Year High”

“After years of low crop prices and rising costs, America’s small farmers are facing a crisis brought on by higher interest rates, Trump’s trade war and dramatically reduced demand from China. 

“In the first half of the year, small-business bankruptcies filed by farmers and fisherman hit the highest number since 2020, which was the tail end of a similar cycle of low-prices. Farm debt is expected to hit $561.8 billion in this year, a record high, according to the US Department of Agriculture.”

Farm Journal: “Fifty-three percent of agricultural economists surveyed in Farm Journal’s July Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor say the row crops side of agriculture is currently in a recession” 

Bloomberg: “The US agricultural trade deficit hit a record high in the first half of 2025, underscoring the continued decline of American farmers’ long-dominant role in global exports amid President Donald Trump’s trade wars.”

This isn’t the first time Trump has screwed over farmers with his erratic trade policies. Back in 2020, Trump encouraged farmers to buy “bigger” tractors and more land because of his China trade deal that ended up being a complete failure. To this day, Trump is still spewing lies that his trade policies will boost tractor sales and benefit farmers. 

Donald Trump, May 2025: “‘And our farmers were doing great. I said to him buy more land and bigger tractors. If you remember. That’s what happened. But the deal was a very good deal.’”

Donald Trump, March 2025: “Our new trade policy will also be great for the American farmer … So to our farmers, have a lot of fun. I love you too.”

Donald Trump, February 2020: “‘And we’ve secured the historic trade deals, including the new trade deal with China. They’re going to buy $50 billion worth of your product… I said, ‘You got to get bigger tractors. … You got to buy a little more land.’”

Peterson Institute for International Economics: “China bought none of the extra $200 billion of US exports in Trump’s trade deal”

“In the end, China bought only 58 percent of the US exports it had committed to purchase under the agreement, not even enough to reach its import levels from before the trade war. Put differently, China bought none of the additional $200 billion of exports Trump’s deal had promised.”