US: Donald Trump promises diesel aid program for farmers

At an election rally in the rural US state of Kansas, President Donald Trump has promised farmers a relief in the face of high diesel prices in the billions.

“Tonight, I am also pleased to announce that the Department of Agriculture will launch a new program of aid for fuel costs during harvest time,” Trump said. The program is said to have a volume of about eight billion dollars.

The initiative goes back to his party friend Senator Roger Marshall, said Trump in front of his supporters. Marshall wants to secure another term in the upcoming election on November 3. Kansas is considered a safe bank for Republican candidates, but according to recent polls, the race between Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton seems to be open.

Trump’s low popularity because of the Iran war and the significantly higher gasoline and diesel prices weigh on the prospects of many Republican candidates in the elections to the US Senate and the House of Representatives.

Trump’s party hopes to defend its narrow majorities in both chambers of the US Congress in the election. Polls give Democrats a good chance of winning the majority in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, where only about a third of the seats are currently elected, the hurdles are higher – but there, too, a change of majority is considered possible.

The announcement is the latest in a series of financial pledges made by the Republican Party leader to voters ahead of the midterm elections. For example, Trump had proposed sending checks for $5000 to all adult citizens if the Republicans win the midterm elections. Analysts, economists and even some Republicans in Congress were skeptical.