U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently suggested that Americans worried about high beef prices might consider adjusting their diets, according to a recent report. She made the comment during an interview with right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, who has been vocal about rising living costs. Rollins pointed out that beef prices had decreased by five percent and were on a downward trend. However, the average price of uncooked ground beef was still $7.16 per pound in August, up from $6.63 the previous year, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rollins, who took office in 2025, criticized former President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party for policies she claims have restricted domestic beef production. She argued that beef prices had risen nearly 30 percent during Biden’s presidency and attributed this to what she called a leftist agenda aimed at reducing cattle herds and removing them from grazing lands, which she linked to climate change concerns. Rollins noted that demand for beef is at a record high, while supply has been constrained by these policies. She also referenced a new food pyramid introduced by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which places red meat at the top, suggesting that Americans may need to consider alternatives if beef is too expensive. Rollins recommended options such as chicken, pork, salmon, or eggs, noting that their prices are also declining. While she acknowledged that grocery prices remain high, she stated that the administration is working to bring them down. President Donald Trump has publicly acknowledged the high cost of beef and announced plans to allow up to 331,000 tons of duty-free ground beef imports into the U.S. over the next 90 days, sold at market rates. Affordability has become a significant concern for voters ahead of the November midterm elections, according to recent polling. Gas prices, which have surged due to tensions in the Middle East, have also become a source of anxiety. A recent Reuters survey found that only 17 percent of respondents approved of Trump’s handling of cost-of-living issues.