Michigan gas prices hit $4.83 as Trump rallies for Senate race

Michigan drivers paid an average of $4.83 per gallon for gasoline on Sunday, a sharp increase from $2.91 before the conflict with Iran began. President Donald Trump used the price hike as a backdrop for his campaign speech in Port Huron, where he defended his decision to launch military operations against Iran and Israel on February 28. The president stated he had no second guesses about the decision, arguing that Iran had to be stopped from obtaining a nuclear weapon, a claim Tehran has denied.

The rally served as a final push for Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Trump focused on the contest between Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Republican challenger Mike Rogers for the open Senate seat formerly held by Gary Peters. The race is one of approximately seven toss-up battles that could determine Senate control. Republicans currently hold a 53-seat majority. A Rogers victory would force Democrats to flip five other seats to regain the chamber, a difficult task given that only 35 seats are up for election this cycle.

Trump targeted El-Sayed’s faith during the nearly two-hour address to hundreds of supporters. He described the progressive physician as a "jihadist" and a "jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member." No evidence indicates El-Sayed, a US-born citizen and former public health official, holds membership in the Muslim Brotherhood or other foreign organizations. Trump proposed that El-Sayed be the only senator required to pass through a metal detector upon entry to the Senate. He told the crowd, "I want him to have a metal detector."

The president warned that a Democratic victory would bring "hordes of jihadists" and violence that could prevent Americans from celebrating Christmas. He falsely accused El-Sayed of intending to impose Islamic law in the United States. Crowd members shouted "traitor" when El-Sayed’s name was mentioned. Trump had previously targeted the candidate’s faith by mistakenly calling him "Mohammed" in recent weeks.

Mike Rogers joined Trump on stage despite past disagreements with the administration. Rogers previously called for an end to the Iran war and criticized the tariff campaign, including trade measures against Canada. A survey by Marketing Resource Group released earlier this month found that only 35 percent of Michigan voters view Trump favorably. Rogers also linked El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, which the US designated a terrorist group this year, and the Democratic Socialists of America. El-Sayed is not a DSA member. Rogers voted in 2012 to continue US aid to Egypt under President Mohammed Morsi, who was affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Trump claimed that US oil companies are earning "hundreds of billions of dollars" from the crisis. He noted that advisers urged him to avoid the topic because drivers are paying more, but he insisted, "We're making a freaking fortune." The Iran war has now run for nearly eight months, exceeding the four to six week duration Trump initially projected. The conflict has led Iran to restrict passage through the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global fuel supplies.