Donald Trump pledged in 2024 to halve energy prices within a year by "unleashing American energy." A year later, gasoline costs jumped 9.1% in September, the highest rise since the Iran war began, threatening Republicans in the upcoming midterms. Voters now see energy inflation as a result of poor policy choices, not supply shortages. A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 60% disapprove of Trump’s Iran handling and 78% blame the White House for higher prices.
Solutions favored by voters—curbing utility profits, ending the Iran war, grid upgrades, and limiting data centers—play to Democratic strengths. The AI data‑center boom, backed by the administration, is raising household electricity bills; a CEPR study finds each new data center can increase rates by up to 13%. This issue is hurting GOP candidates in swing states like Pennsylvania, where rates rose 18.9% last year, and Ohio, where Senator Jon Husted’s pro‑data‑center stance is being attacked by challenger Sherrod Brown.
The episode underscores a broader midterm challenge for Republicans: perceived crony capitalism, with half of GOP voters believing Trump’s business ties influence policy.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing