President Trump began his remarks Thursday with little subtlety.
asserted
Trump → begin → subtlety
"I know you're not all farmers, but I love farmers," he said to the crowd of Iowans, adding, "we're taking care of our farmers."
It's still harvest season in the Hawkeye State, after a September marked by some of the heaviest rains the state has ever seen.
asserted
state → know → rains
Speaking from a crowded airplane hangar surrounded by sprawling fields on the state's westernmost side, the president appealed to people who have faced a serious squeeze in recent months beyond the harvest delays.
asserted
who → speak → delays
and fertilizer prices have surged since began, a financial blow to Iowa farmers who were already struggling to export crops due to last year's trade wars.
asserted
who → surge → wars
The president was surrounded by fervent supporters in the state's ruby-red 4th Congressional District, which voted for Mr. Trump by more than 30 points in 2024 — exceeding his 13-point statewide win.
asserted
which → surround → win
But as , House and gubernatorial races have grown surprisingly competitive in Iowa, the president is looking to boost support in even the most devoted of places.
asserted
president → grow → places
Mr. Trump talked at length about programs focused on farmers, highlighting a laundry list of initiatives as he made a pitch for farmers to continue to support him.
asserted
farmers → talk → him
He touted the harvest release $150 million to increase American refining capacity to "produce more diesel and more gasoline."
asserted
He → tout → diesel
And he pointed to a waiver that lets drivers buy untaxed "red-dyed" diesel that is normally only permitted for off-road vehicles, "allowing farmers, truckers and anyone else to fill up diesel totally tax-free.
asserted
that → point → diesel
"
unveiled earlier this week, which will offer $8 billion to offset high diesel prices, to cheers from the crowd.
asserted
which → unveil → crowd
He said the administration will be using the Defense Production Act
asserted
administration → say → Act
president also referenced a longer-term plan for the company Mesabi Metallics to build a steel plant in eastern Iowa by 2030, an
."I don't think of you as a steel plant place," Mr. Trump said.
asserted
Trump → reference → place
"I think of you with a farm and the John Deere tractors and everything."
asserted
I → think → farm
It's unclear what impact those programs will have on next month's elections.
uncertain
programs → have → elections
Nationwide, diesel prices have eased slightly from their stuck above $6 per gallon.
asserted
prices → ease → gallon
And that most voters blame the Iran war for surging energy prices and are unhappy with the Trump administration's handling of the conflict.
asserted
voters → blame → conflict
, but they remainMr. Trump addressed the war's impact on energy prices during Thursday's rally, saying, "When the war in Iran ends, oil is going to be even less."
asserted
oil → address → Iran
But he largely defended his Iran strategy, arguing that "if they had a nuclear weapon, you wouldn't be very comfortable."
asserted
you → defend → weapon
The president said he noticed the low price of gasoline during
shortly before the start of hostilities with Iran earlier this year, but decided, "I had to do something.
asserted
I → say → something
Democrats have tried to capitalize on voters' wariness with the war, as polls show a
between Trump-allied Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek, and a slight Democratic edge in the race for governor.
asserted
polls → try → governor
Three of the four House contests have also grown surprisingly competitive.
asserted
Three → grow → contests
Turek blamed "the unnecessary war in Iran" for energy prices during a debate earlier this month.
asserted
Turek → blame → debate
The dynamic has also caused some Republicans to put distance between themselves and the president.
asserted
Republicans → cause → themselves
Hinson, who previously vowed to be Mr. Trump's "top ally" in the Senate, said during a debate with Turek that she would be Mr. Trump's ally when it's "important for Iowa" but could "push back on him when necessary."
uncertain
it → vow → him
Last month, Hinson
"the war needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end.
asserted
war → need → end
The president called her "all that stands between the people of Iowa and communists controlling the United States Senate."
asserted
that → call → Senate
"Frankly, she's always calling me and asking me for things like for Iowa.
asserted
she → call → Iowa
'Sir, could you give a little bit more money to the farmers.'
uncertain
you → give → farmers
I said, 'This woman is such a pain.'
asserted
woman → say → ?
But ultimately that's nice, I guess," the president said.
asserted
president → guess → ?
She's going to be great."
Hinson has made a point of referencing those calls in recent weeks, as she's emphasized how she intends to work with the president for Iowans.
asserted
she → go → Iowans
When she took the stage before Mr. Trump on Thursday, she once again mentioned their conversations.
asserted
she → take → 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," Hinson said.
asserted
Hinson → talk → phone
"And that's exactly what you would expect me to do, right?"
asserted
me → expect → what
Some Iowans who attended the rally noted that energy prices have left a mark, but were optimistic.
"The fuel prices are a big thing right now, but once the fuel prices come down, that's going to make it a lot better," Sioux City resident Tom McGaffey told CBS News.
asserted
McGaffey → attend → News
He was supportive of Hinson, saying, "She's good for Iowa farmers.
asserted
She → say → farmers
She's fair, she's honest, she just supports all of Iowa.
asserted
she → support → Iowa
But for some, concern over the war's implications for the midterms, and the outlook for Republicans, persisted.
asserted
concern → persist → Republicans
Curt Strathman — who supports the president — said he's "kind of worried" about the political impact of the Iran war, but recognizes that Mr. Trump concluded "it needed to be done."
"I think it was bad timing for this midterm election.
asserted
it → support → election
I really do," he said.
asserted
he → do → ?
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
