Full Breakdown
Trump’s Texas Rally Tour: Loyal MAGA Base Holds Firm Amid Soaring Gas Prices and the Iran War
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Texas Rally Highlights
In late October 2026, President Donald Trump held back-to-back rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock, Texas—states whose economies are tightly linked to oil and gas. Supporters acknowledged the “economic squeeze” from record gasoline costs but reiterated unwavering backing for Trump and his agenda.
02
Background & Context
Gasoline prices have surged to an average of $4.25 per gallon, a rise of nearly 40 percent from $3.05 a year earlier, according to the American Automobile Association. The Conversation links this spike to the ongoing war with Iran, which has driven up global oil demand and inflation. The White House highlighted a new energy deal that secured the first million barrels of Venezuelan crude at no cost to the U.S.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
03
Data & Statistics
- Gas price: $4.25 / gal (? 40 % increase YoY).
- Polling: A mid-October 2026 poll found only one-third of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s performance, while 71 % believe the country is on the wrong track.
- Election history: Trump won Texas by double-digit margins in the 2024 presidential election.
- Rally attendance: Newsweek estimated roughly 4,000 attendees at each venue.
04
Official Statements & Responses
President Trump framed the high gasoline prices as a temporary issue that would soon reverse. He told the Lubbock crowd that “our country is making a fortune while people have to pay more at the pump” and announced the arrival of the first million barrels of Venezuelan oil at the Corpus Christi stop, calling the deal a “big victory” for American energy supply and jobs. The White House echoed this, emphasizing that the agreement expands U.S. access to energy resources without costing taxpayers.
05
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts at New Republic challenged Trump’s narrative, noting that while the administration briefly sold more oil abroad, “oil prices remain astronomically high.” The outlet argued that Trump’s claims of a “massive factory boom” and of solving the cost-of-living crisis through foreign conquest are “false” and risk alienating voters feeling the pinch of inflation.
06
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Attendance figures remain unverified. Newsweek’s on-the-ground estimates differ from the lack of official numbers provided by the campaigns, leaving the true crowd size unclear. Additionally, Trump’s assertion that the United States is “making a fortune” from the Iran war is not substantiated by quantitative data in the sources.
07
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our country is making a fortune while people have to pay more at the pump,” — Donald Trump
- “The choice in this election is very simple,” — Donald Trump
- “To the victor belong the spoils,” — Donald Trump
- “This doesn’t necessarily mean that a bunch of Republicans have become Democrats in Texas,” — Brendan Steinhauser, a Republican strategist in Texas
08
What’s Next
The Texas rallies are part of Trump’s push to energize his base ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, where Democrats are projected to gain seats in the House. Polls in Georgia show Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff leading Republican Mike Collins by 8.2 points (RealClearPolitics average). In Texas, the Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican incumbent Ken Paxton remains within a few points, with recent surveys placing Talarico ahead by 2–5 points. Both campaigns will likely continue to leverage the narrative of energy security and economic anxiety as voters head to the polls.