Trump launches midterms campaign blitz amid record low approval ratings
President Donald Trump launched a 32‑day campaign tour on Thursday, beginning with back‑to‑back rallies in Denton, Texas, and Durant, Oklahoma, as the Republican Party confronts low approval ratings amid the war on Iran and rising fuel costs. Speaking to workers at the Peterbilt Motors Company, Trump gave his administration an “A+” on government and the economy, blamed “unfair media coverage” for his unpopularity, and urged supporters to “pretend I’m on the ballot” despite not being a candidate himself. He highlighted his tariff policy as the source of “thousands of manufacturing jobs” and promised that the conflict with Iran would end quickly, which he claimed would bring down energy prices.
New polling released by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that 71 percent of Americans disapprove of the war on Iran, which has driven up diesel to over $6 per gallon and heightened concerns about food and fuel affordability. Only 26 percent approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, and the war’s impact on the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global fuel trade. These figures underscore the challenges facing Republican candidates in the November 3 midterms, where all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are contested; losing control of either chamber could impede Trump’s legislative agenda in the final two years of his second term.
During the Oklahoma stop, Trump warned that a Republican defeat could lead to a third impeachment, echoing his earlier concerns. He used the platform to boost the prospects of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, calling him “the greatest attorney general” while attacking Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico as out of touch. The tour will continue to Alabama, Ohio and Nebraska, targeting traditionally Republican districts that have become increasingly competitive, as the party seeks to offset the negative fallout from the Iran war, soaring fuel prices and the president’s historically low approval ratings.
⚡ Effects Interpreter
🌍World Economy
- ▶Global boardrooms tend to take notice when this kind of news surfaces.
- ▶Growth projections drawn up in distant capitals might need a rethink.
🏙️Local Economy
- ▶Community shops could subtly reprice stock as costs shift upstream.
- ▶The pinch, if any, tends to show up first at the till.
🏦Rates & Banks
- ▶Financial markets sometimes overreact to rate speculation before banks even respond.
- ▶Rate decisions tend to follow data, not headlines, so patience is the norm.
❤️Health
- ▶Stress levels in affected communities may tick up before they settle.
- ▶A little perspective usually helps once the initial shock fades.
💷Wealth
- ▶Investors often reshuffle their holdings when stories like this break.
- ▶Savers with a clear plan tend to feel less rattled by a story like this.
🏠Housing
- ▶Buyers and renters may notice only a mild drift, if anything at all.
- ▶Bricks and mortar tend to hold steady while other markets swing about.