Trump continues midterm campaign blitz in North Carolina – US politics live
President to stump for Michael Whatley, who is facing an uphill battle against Democrat Roy Cooper for the Senate, as elections are just two weeks away Sign up for the Breaking News US email Welcome to the US politics live blog! I’m Shrai Popat and I’ll be bringing you the latest lines from Washington and beyond. We start today with Donald Trump’s upcoming to trip to Greenville, North Carolina – where he’ll stump…
Key points
- Trump announced $8bn in aid for farmers hit by soaring diesel prices.
- The announcement came 15 days before midterm elections dominated by fuel cost anger.
- Diesel costs nearly $6 a gallon, almost double the price from a year ago.
President Donald Trump has announced $8bn in economic aid for farmers affected by soaring diesel prices, according to The Guardian. The announcement came 15 days before a midterm election that the report says is dominated by anger over rising fuel costs linked to the US war on Iran.
Polling cited in the article shows Republicans on course for a midterms drubbing. Trump made the announcement during a rally in Kansas on Monday night.
Pressure on farmers
Farmers in Kansas, a heavily agricultural state, have been hit hard by the consequences of the Iran war, the article says. A gallon of diesel costs nearly $6, nearly double the price from this time a year ago.
In August, the president upset cattle ranchers with a plan to reduce import tariffs to lower the price of beef, and with aggressive immigration raids that prompted some agricultural workers to stay at home.
The fact that Donald Trump was here at all said more about a looming electoral disaster facing his Republican
— David Smith
Rally amid mounting anger
The aid announcement came as Republicans faced mounting anger over the cost of living and the ongoing war in Iran, according to the report. The Guardian's David Smith wrote that the fact Trump was in Kansas at all "said more about a looming electoral disaster" facing his Republican party.
