Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, locked in a tight Republican runoff for governor, publicly broke with President Trump on trade policy Sunday, calling the administration's tariffs and beef import plan a direct hit to the state's agricultural economy.
"I think Oklahoma and I are supportive of President Trump and many of his policies. I do think the majority of Oklahomans would agree that the tariffs are too far. That importing cheap beef only injures Oklahoma's cattlemen, ranchers, and farmers," Drummond told News Nation, a network owned by Nexstar, which also owns The Hill.
"I'm unafraid to disagree with the president when he's wrong, and he's wrong on tariffs. He's wrong on importing cheap beef," Drummond added, underscoring his willingness to distance himself from the White House on an issue that resonates deeply in a top cattle-producing state.
The remarks come days after the Trump administration temporarily suspended higher tariffs on ground beef imports to ease consumer prices—a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers and ranching groups who argue it undercuts American producers. The U.S. is also bracing for retaliatory tariffs from Canada next month in response to new 50 percent duties on certain Canadian goods.
Drummond, a rancher himself, is battling former state senator and budget secretary Mike Mazzei in Tuesday's runoff. Mazzei has Trump's endorsement, a prize that surprised many in the red state given Drummond's strong showing in the June primary, where he edged out Mazzei by a razor-thin margin despite the president's push for Republicans to reject him.
Trump remains broadly popular in Oklahoma, having carried the state by double digits in all three of his presidential runs. But recent moves on trade and the economy have tested that loyalty. A survey by longtime Oklahoma pollster Pat McFerron found only 38 percent of Oklahoma Republicans now identify as "Trump Republicans," while 56 percent prefer the label "Traditional Republican."
Drummond has also resisted a Trump-backed aluminum smelter project in the state, arguing it would give undue control to Dubai-based Emirates Global Aluminum. Mazzei, who once criticized the plan, now champions it. In his own News Nation appearance over the weekend, Mazzei leaned into his alignment with Trump, calling Drummond a "liberal rhino" and noting Trump's dominance in all 77 counties.
Drummond dismissed the attack, pointing to his record of fighting the Biden administration in court and his access to the current White House. "I sued, successfully, President Biden's administration 17 times and won. I have stood with President Trump in every issue. As a matter of fact, he's had me into the White House twice in the last four months," he said.
The runoff could signal how much sway Trump's endorsement still holds in deep-red Oklahoma, especially when economic policy clashes with local interests. As Trump defends his endorsement record amid recent primary setbacks, the Oklahoma race is a key test.
Drummond's stance on tariffs also aligns with broader GOP concerns about the administration's trade approach, which has sparked friction even among allies. The president's tariff push has drawn mixed reactions in other states, and the beef import decision has become a flashpoint.
With the primary runoff set for Tuesday, Drummond's willingness to break with the president on trade could either cost him with base voters or appeal to those wary of Trump's economic policies. The outcome will be closely watched as a barometer of Republican sentiment in the heartland.
