United States President Donald Trump has kicked off a 32-day campaign tour ahead of the November midterm elections that could see his Republican Party hurt by his handling of the war on Iran and the economy. On Thursday, Trump travelled from Washington, DC, for back-to-back rallies in Texas and Oklahoma. At his first stop in Denton, Texas, Trump sought to shift the narrative around his drooping approval ratings, offering a personal assessment of his administration’s performance.
The president also blamed unfair media coverage for his growing unpopularity, arguing that his pre-election rally blitz was necessary to set the record straight. But Trump’s poll numbers have raised concerns about Republican prospects ahead of the November 3 midterm election. Trump himself is not on the ballot, but Republican candidates across the country are seeking to defend the right-wing party’s majorities in both chambers of Congress, as well as key state and local offices.
The economy and Trump’s war on Iran are expected to weigh heavily on the election outcome. On Thursday, The and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released new poll results showing that 71 percent of Americans disapprove of the war, which has driven up the price of fuel. About half of survey respondents also said they were worried they would not be able to afford food and petrol.
Only 26 percent approved of Trump’s handling of the economy. Still, despite record low approval ratings, Trump has positioned himself as key to the Republican midterm strategy. At a first-of-its-kind Republican midterm convention in September, Trump encouraged voters to consider his record while at the ballot box.
During Thursday’s tour, he touted the impact of his tariff campaign, which he credited with creating thousands of manufacturing jobs. Critics have argued that the sweeping import taxes surpass the president’s constitutional powers. Trump also used his stump speech to ease concerns about the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28.
Both sides have declared victory, though a ceasefire remains elusive. I will tell you the energy prices are going to be rapidly, rapidly coming down,” Trump said. The price of diesel — the fuel the trucks built at the plant use — soared to record highs of more than $6 per gallon (3.8 litres) last week.
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