Rallygoers in North Carolina sent a clear message on Tuesday about the price of the Iran war: they will pay more for gasoline if it stops Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Fox News Digital approached several attendees as they left Pitt-Greenville Airport, where President Donald Trump had just addressed the crowd.
Reporters asked about fuel prices, the coming midterm elections and the war itself.
The conflict has driven oil prices upward and added to Americans’ affordability worries, Fox News Digital reported. Election Day falls on Nov. 3, two weeks from now.
One voter, speaking Tuesday evening, built the case around future generations.
“If you’re really a good American, you’ll be thinking not for yourself or how much you’re spending for gas. But what life is going to be like for your children, your grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” the voter said.
The voter kept going.
“What will they grow up to? You have to keep those people in the political regime in Iran without a nuclear weapon. If we don’t do something now, isn’t that worth paying another dollar a gallon?”
A local voter named Shauna turned to the previous administration. “Things haven’t changed much since Sleepy Joe,” she said, referring to former President Joe Biden.
She then gave her view of the current president.
“At least prices. … But [Trump is] doing the best he can with what he has. Because, you know, he’s not Congress. He can only pass so much.”
Michael, another local voter, said blocking Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon justified higher gas prices for American drivers.
He explained why he backed Trump to begin with. “We believed in what he [Trump] was saying and what he stood for,” he said.
Michael also spoke about the criticism he hears.
“And you hear people today saying, ‘Y’all wanted to get politicians out of Washington.’ … We got a businessman in. [He] never claimed to be a politician. He’s a businessman.”
He then returned to the subject of Iran.
“Even with the gas prices up for what he’s done in Iran,” he added. “To me [that] is worth the high gas prices. I’ll take that any day to stop a country like Iran and take that nuclear power away. That’s a no-brainer, you know.”
Michael closed with a forecast for drivers. “Now, will the gas prices come down? Absolutely. They will come down because of what he’s done.”
A fourth supporter, Steve, gave his own outlook on the timeline for relief. “It would take an act of God to lower prices before this election is over,” he said.
Steve told Fox News Digital he would urge other Americans to back GOP candidates even with prices elevated.
“But I highly stress to everybody to vote Republican like you are voting like it’s the most important election in your lifetime. Because in many instances, it actually is.”
Trump has maintained that the ongoing war with Iran is a “small price to pay” to keep the nation safe.
The president has spent the final weeks before the Nov. 3 midterms traveling the country. His rallies aim to energize Republican candidates and help the GOP hold on to control of Congress.
His stop in North Carolina targeted a Senate contest in particular. Trump appeared in part to support Republican candidate Michael Whatley.
Whatley faces former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper in that race.
