“We’ll put up with high prices too”... Fervent Trump supporters line up for 1 km at rally

  【Sioux City — Correspondent Lee Byung-chul】Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa, on the 22nd (local time). Ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s rally for the midterm elections, a line of people waiting to enter the venue stretched for more than 1 km along the roads around the airport. Among the supporters wearing red “MAGA (Make America Great Again)” hats, families with young children, older couples and young people stood out.
The area around the airport had quickly turned into a festival site. Temporary tents selling T-shirts and hats emblazoned with “TRUMP 47” and “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” as well as American flags, had sprung up on both sides of the road. Some attendees had brought folding chairs as they waited their turn to enter.
The supporters’ concerns varied, ranging from immigration and border control to rising prices and the war in Iran. But they shared the belief that President Trump was leading the United States in the right direction.
Robert Morgan, 69, who came from southwestern Iowa, is an ardent supporter who has attended several of President Trump’s rallies. “It’s fun just to come to events like this. I also enjoy hearing from local candidates,” he said.
Morgan cited immigration as the biggest issue in this midterm election. “Immigration is the most important issue. It’s also important to support Republican candidates and the president who is waging the war in Iran,” he said, adding, “We need lower gas prices, too, but I think we’re heading in the right direction.” He cited border control as President Trump’s greatest achievement.■ “The pain of high prices is a small price to pay for freedom”The supporters interviewed at the rally did not deny the burden caused by rising prices. Some, however, viewed it as a temporary cost of the war rather than a failure of government policy.
Jody Gebhart, 63, said, “I think rising prices are a temporary phenomenon caused by the war. I hope prices will come down when the situation in the war stabilizes.”
Asked why she supported President Trump despite high prices, she said, “We trust President Trump. We believe prices will come down,” adding, “We’re going through a little pain right now, but it’s a small price to pay for freedom.”
On the “blue wave,” referring to a Democratic Party victory in the midterms or a surge in its support, she said, “The media makes the blue wave look bigger than it really is,” and claimed, “The Democrats’ blue wave will be swept away by the Republicans’ red tsunami.”
Richard Ducker, 68, cited “stopping socialism” as the biggest issue in this election. “Capitalism made America a great country. Entrepreneurship and individual opportunity are important,” he said. “In America, if you work hard, you can achieve the goals you want.”
On inflation, he claimed, “It’s a problem the Democratic Party started during the Biden administration. Printing money without evidence to back it up caused the inflation we’re seeing now.”
■$8 billion in aid, expanded ethanol... Winning over farmersPresident Trump’s visit to Iowa is aimed at getting his core supporters to turn out to vote. Iowa is a Republican stronghold where Trump won the 2024 presidential election by about 13 percentage points. But since the war in Iran began, diesel and fertilizer prices have surged, while corn prices have also fallen, hurting farm profitability.
In Iowa, a major agricultural state, diesel is an essential input cost for operating large farm equipment such as tractors and combines. Rising diesel prices in the fall, when harvesting and transportation are concentrated, directly burden farmers. President Trump said that day, “I know not all of you are farmers. But I love farmers.” Emphasizing the $8 billion farmer assistance program he had announced earlier, he estimated that about $400 million of it would go to Iowa farmers.
He also announced a plan to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to provide up to $150 million in support and expand the production capacity, storage and logistics capabilities of U.S. refineries. The aim is to stabilize fuel prices by increasing diesel and gasoline production. He also raised ethanol policy, a sensitive issue for Iowa farmers. He promised to pursue a plan to permanently allow E15 fuel, which is blended with 15% ethanol, to be sold year-round.
In Iowa, corn is both food and a raw material for motor fuel. Since 2005, the U.S. government has supported demand for corn through policies requiring the blending of biofuels. During his first term in 2019, President Trump allowed E15 to be sold year-round, but he also clashed with the agricultural sector by granting some refiners exemptions from biofuel-blending requirements.
While endorsing Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson, President Trump promised, “If Ashley gets into the Senate, I’ll make year-round sales of E15 permanent.” He directly linked agricultural policy to the Senate election.■ “Think of me as being on the ballot”President Trump claimed that the war in Iran would soon end and that gasoline and oil prices would fall sharply afterward. However, the timing of the war’s end and the future trajectory of oil prices remain uncertain. He urged supporters to back Republican candidates, saying, “Think of me as being on the ballot. If you turn out to vote, we’re going to win big.”
Supporters interviewed at the rally also expressed confidence that the Republicans would retain their majority in Congress. Morgan said, “The Republicans will hold on to both the Senate and the House.” Gebhart said, “I hope the Republicans keep their majority in Congress. We’re praying that happens.” Ducker also said that he did not necessarily trust the poll results, describing Iowa as “a relatively conservative state” and “a place that values traditional values.” 

[email protected] Correspondent Lee Byung-chul Reporter