SIOUX CITY – President Donald Trump addressed the cost of gas and diesel ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
“I was in Iowa making a speech… and I looked over and passed two gas stations, and I looked at the top of the pumps, and it was $1.95 a gallon, and the other one was $1.85 a gallon,” Trump said Thursday evening.
According to the American Automobile Association, the average cost of gas in Iowa is $4.12 per gallon. Diesel costs $6.18 per gallon; one year ago diesel cost $3.41 per gallon.
“Two weeks ago I also signed an order waiving off-road requirements for red dye diesel, allowing farmers, truckers and anyone else to fill up diesel totally tax-free,” Trump said. “My administration is using the Defense Production Act to release $150 million to increase American refining capacity to produce more diesel and more gasoline.”
Increased diesel costs mean farmers must spend more to run equipment and harvest crops.
“On Monday, I announced the Harvest Fuel Relief Program providing our farmers with $8 billion to offset diesel costs in the harvest season,” Trump said.
Rising diesel costs drive up grocery prices. In the last 12 months, the average cost of food increased 2.5%, according to the U.S. Inflation Calculator.
“Income for hard-working Americans has soared to the highest level ever recorded,” Trump said. “Number two, more Americans are working today than at any time in the history of our country. Number three, the poverty rate has just reached its best level in American history… I just approved a steel plant for billions of dollars in a section of Iowa that could use the jobs.”
The new $15 billion Mesabi Metallics Steel Plant will create an estimated 1,750 permanent jobs in Lee County, Iowa. Resulting from a special Iowa legislative session, the plant received $1.4 billion in tax incentives.
The United States Census Bureau reported a 10.2% poverty rate in 2025, and the median household income hit $87,460.
“Your 401k’s, you look like geniuses, and you didn’t do a damn thing,” Trump said. “If Republicans win the House of Representatives and the Senate, I am going to give all adult citizens… $5,000… and only a Republican can do that,” Trump said.
Trump urged voters to pretend he is on the ballot.
“I’ll always have that little extra power,” Trump said. “We only have a little more than two years left. Can you believe it? I’m gonna have a lot of power when I leave, and I’m going to keep you number one; it doesn’t matter. Two days from now, the people of Iowa are going to elect Ashley Hinson as your next Senator. We are going to elect a great guy. A real Trumper for a long time, Zach Lahn, to the governor’s mansion.”
IA-02 Republican U.S. House candidate Joe Mitchell closed the event by presenting a “Man of the Century” award to Trump.
“It’s a new award; it’s a Man of the Century award,” Mitchell said. “This man has been more for humanity and for America than any other president ever.”