President Donald Trump campaigned in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday, October 22, 2026, to support Republican candidates 12 days before the midterm elections. During the rally, the president described Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed as a "jihadist" and compared Iowa Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico of Texas, and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) to "extremists." El-Sayed, who is Muslim, had recently disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood at a town hall in Michigan after an attendee questioned his loyalties, an interaction in which El-Sayed stated his allegiance is to the U.S. Constitution.
The rally served as a campaign stop for Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), who is running for the U.S. Senate, and Zach Lahn, a candidate for Iowa governor. According to a Marist Poll, both Republicans trail their Democratic opponents: Turek leads Hinson 48 to 45 percent, while Rob Sand leads Lahn 52 to 45 percent. The event took place after correspondent Andrew Feinberg was removed from the Air Force One press pool for the trip following the president's criticism of his questioning during a Tuesday event in the Oval Office.
Addressing Iowa's agricultural sector, the president highlighted several economic measures intended to assist farmers facing high energy costs during the Iran war. These include an $8 billion harvest fuel relief program to offset diesel prices and a $150 million allocation via the Defense Production Act to expand domestic refining capacity. Trump also noted a waiver allowing the use of untaxed "red-dyed" diesel for on-road vehicles. While Hinson appeared alongside Trump, she has recently stated she would "push back" on the president when necessary and has called for the war in Iran to be brought to an immediate end.
For individual households, the president has promised $5,000 checks to Americans if Republicans retain control of Congress, a proposal critics have characterized as a bribe. The "red-dyed" diesel waiver removes the federal excise tax for those filling up. These measures are being introduced as the administration faces a 33 percent approval rating in recent ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos polling, influenced by inflation and the conflict in Iran.
The policies involve federal spending and the use of the Defense Production Act, which grants the president authority to direct private industry for national security. The midterm election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Legal challenges regarding the proposed $5,000 dividend checks remain a possibility if the plan moves forward after the election.