Donald Trump used a rally in Iowa to court farmers facing soaring fuel and fertiliser costs, while backing Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson in a state where several elections have become unexpectedly competitive.
Speaking at a crowded aircraft hangar in Sioux City, the president highlighted measures intended to ease pressure on farmers during the harvest season, including an $8 billion fuel relief programme aimed at offsetting high diesel prices.
“I know you’re not all farmers, but I love farmers,” Mr Trump told the crowd. “We’re taking care of our farmers.”
Iowa has endured some of its heaviest rainfall on record during September, delaying harvesting. Farmers have also faced higher diesel and fertiliser prices since the war in Iran began, adding to difficulties exporting crops after last year’s trade disputes.
Mr Trump said the administration would use the Defense Production Act to provide $150 million to expand US refining capacity and produce more diesel and petrol. He also pointed to a temporary waiver allowing drivers to buy untaxed red-dyed diesel, normally reserved for off-road vehicles.
The president said the measures would help “farmers, truckers and anyone else” fill up with diesel without paying tax. He also referred to plans for Mesabi Metallics to build a steel plant in eastern Iowa by 2030.
Energy prices have become a political concern ahead of next month’s elections. Diesel prices have fallen slightly from record levels recorded last month, but remain above six dollars a gallon, while global crude oil prices are still high.
Mr Trump defended his strategy in Iran, despite polls showing voters are unhappy with his administration’s handling of the conflict and blame the war for rising energy costs.
“When the war in Iran ends, oil is going to be even less,” he said, adding that action was necessary because “if they had a nuclear weapon, you wouldn’t be very comfortable.”
Democrats in Iowa have sought to make the conflict an issue in the Senate race between Ms Hinson, a Trump-backed Republican congresswoman, and Democratic state representative Josh Turek. The contest has been described as neck and neck, while Democrats hold a slight advantage in the race for governor.
Three of Iowa’s four House races have also become competitive. The state’s fourth congressional district, where the rally took place, voted for Mr Trump by more than 30 points in 2024, compared with his 13-point statewide margin.
Mr Turek blamed “the unnecessary war in Iran” for higher energy prices during a debate earlier this month. Ms Hinson, who had previously called herself Mr Trump’s “top ally” in the Senate, has said she would work with him when it was important for Iowa but would “push back on him when necessary”.
There was no public sign of tension between the pair at Thursday’s event. Mr Trump described Ms Hinson as “all that stands between the people of Iowa and communists controlling the United States Senate”.
He also joked that she frequently called him to request more support for the state’s farmers. “I said, ‘This woman is such a pain.’ But ultimately that’s nice, I guess,” he said, before calling her “a fantastic woman”.
Ms Hinson told the crowd that she often asked the president for help during their conversations. “I’m not sure, frankly, that he’s always happy when we’re talking because I ask him for a lot of things for Iowa when we’re on the phone,” she said.
Some attendees said fuel prices were a serious concern but remained optimistic. Sioux City resident Tom McGaffey said costs were “a big thing right now”, while expressing support for Ms Hinson.
Another Trump supporter, Curt Strathman, said he was “kind of worried” about the political effect of the war in Iran and believed its timing could harm Republicans in the midterm elections.
