Trump touts rollout of $19B farm aid: 'If we didn't act, we would have had a big problem'

President Trump on Tuesday touted the implementation of the $19 billion farm aid announced last month, bringing farmers to the White House to discuss the federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"The action we took was a very important one," Trump said. "The food chains are now back to almost working perfectly again. They had some interruptions, which you knew about, and we were able to take a very bold action, you saw that. And that action caused them to do what they had to do. They're in good shape, and very shortly they'll be in absolutely perfect shape." 

Last month, President Trump announced the federal government would use coronavirus CARES Act funding to shore up farmers with a new $19 billion aid package.

Trump said Tuesday he was working to reopen and address health concerns of meatpacking factories, which have been hotspots of coronavirus infections.

"If we didn't act, we would have had a big problem," he said.

Zippy Duvall, president and CEO of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said at the White House: "This pandemic's made us realize one thing: We live in in the land of plenty, but there's a food chain that is just as important to us as our military is. We have to be able to feed our own people. We can't afford to be fed by other countries. That makes us a national security issue, and we know that you realize that."

The farm aid was included in the recent, $2.2 million CARES Act aid package in two parts: one part was $16 billion in direct payments to farmers, ranchers and producers, who suffered unprecedented losses during the coronavirus pandemic.

Some of those funds for farmers, $6.5 billion, were allocated to be quickly distributed through the Commodity Credit Corporation, a USDA program used to implement specific programs established by Congress.

The other part included $3 billion of direct purchases by the federal government from farmers for fresh produce, dairy and meat products. The products were earmarked for distribution to needy Americans through food banks and community and faith-based organizations through a Food Box Distribution Program.

On Friday, White House adviser Ivanka Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue toured Coastal Sunbelt Producers in Laurel, Md., which has begun the packing and distribution of these boxes to families in need.

Trump delivered his remarks at the White House on supporting our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and food supply chain.  This event began at 11:00 am EDT. Watch below.