Trump Says Midterms Voters Weren't Willing to Pay More for Gas

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump attributed the Democratic sweep in the midterm elections to voter dissatisfaction with rising gasoline prices caused by the Iran war, emphasizing that while people support his Iran policy, they were unwilling to bear the short-term cost of higher fuel prices.
• Trump congratulated Democratic leaders on their victories and acknowledged the shift to a fully opposition-controlled Congress, expressing sympathy for Republicans who lost but downplaying the election as a personal defeat since he was not on the ballot.
• Gasoline prices in the US have surged about 36% on average compared to last year, with some states like Michigan experiencing increases above 50%, driven by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to Iranian attacks and mining after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
• Diesel prices have risen even more sharply, up about 70% nationally, reaching record highs in most states this fall, reflecting the broader impact of Middle East tensions on global energy supplies.
• The White House anticipates a significant drop in oil prices once the conflict in the Middle East concludes, though limited fighting continues, including recent unpublicized US strikes on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.