ICYMI: Derrick Van Orden Attacks WI Ag Exports

MADISON, Wis. — Today, Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden turned a hearing of the House Agriculture Committee into a stage for another one of his embarrassing outbursts, questioning a witness on whether the U.S. was “essentially feeding Nazy Germany in 1938” by exporting food and other agricultural products to China.

In 2023, China was Wisconsin’s third-largest export market for agricultural products, with $324 million in total exports—behind only Canada and Mexico.

Watch the full exchange from Heartland Signal, and read a transcript below:

VAN ORDEN: I want to highlight the fact that right now, we are essentially feeding Nazi Germany in 1938. And do you think that’s an appropriate use of American resources? Would it have been then, and is it now with China? Because that’s where we’re at with China, we’re in 1938. They haven’t invaded Poland yet, but it’s on the horizon.”

In response, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Communications Director Joe Oslund issued the following statement:

“This latest outburst is over the top, even for Derrick Van Orden. China is Wisconsin’s third-largest market for agricultural exports, accounting for $324 million in business. Abandoning this export market would hurt Wisconsin farmers and make it harder for America to compete with China. It’s National Agriculture Week—we should be celebrating Wisconsin’s farmers for the billions of dollars in business they do around the globe, not attacking their access to export markets with flippant outbursts about Nazi Germany.”

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