Key facts
- Trump rallies in Iowa to support Republican candidates in upcoming midterm elections.
- Voter concerns over economic issues like fuel and grocery prices are impacting the races.
- Some Republican candidates are distancing themselves from Trump on the Iran war.
- Trump's approval rating has fallen to 31%, with 68% disapproving of his economic handling.
President Donald Trump traveled to Iowa on Thursday to rally support for Republican candidates in the upcoming November 3 midterm elections. Trump won the state by 13 percentage points two years ago, but his standing has weakened amid voter anxiety over his policies, higher fuel and grocery prices, and the Iran war.
Republicans are defending a Senate seat, three House districts, and the governor's office in Iowa. Some Republican lawmakers, including Representative Ashley Hinson, have broken with Trump on the Iran war, advocating for an end to it to avoid higher prices. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn also voted to limit Trump's war powers.
Recent polling indicates challenges for Republicans, with Democrat Rob Sand leading in the race for governor. A Marist poll found that 42% of likely Iowa voters felt their finances had worsened, and 35% viewed their vote as being against Trump.
Trump's visit comes as his approval rating has fallen to 31%, with 68% of Americans disapproving of his handling of the economy, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.