President Donald Trump addressed a Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday amid escalating conflict in the Middle East and rising oil prices, seeking to defend his administration’s record as the November elections approach. Speaking hours before his scheduled remarks, Trump suggested that the ongoing war involving Iran could continue through the election period, marking a shift from his earlier optimism about the conflict’s duration.

At Joint Base Andrews, prior to boarding Air Force One, Trump predicted that the hostilities would conclude soon after the vote, saying the opposing side was motivated to prolong the conflict to influence the election outcome. “The war will end immediately after the election because they can’t hold out any longer, they’re desperate to try and affect the election,” he said. He added that oil prices, which have surged alongside the military tensions, would then fall sharply.

The president’s assertion of election interference tied to the war echoes his longstanding claims involving various entities such as prosecutors, media organizations, foreign governments, and election processes. Since the conflict’s onset on February 28, Trump and his administration had portrayed the military engagement as a short-term operation, initially projected to last four to six weeks. Officials had also expressed hope that gasoline prices would stabilize to prewar levels by early September.

However, global crude oil prices remain volatile, with benchmarks surpassing $100 per barrel on Wednesday amid intensifying military actions. These include the U.S. forces sinking Iranian tankers and Iran responding with missile strikes on a U.S. base in Jordan, further exacerbating regional instability.

Trump maintained that explaining the recent spike in fuel costs to the American public was straightforward, pointing directly to the ongoing conflict. His remarks reflect growing pressure on the Republican Party, which faces challenges stemming from economic concerns linked to energy prices as well as broader geopolitical uncertainties.

The administration’s handling of the Middle East situation and its economic repercussions have become focal points in the upcoming midterm contests, with debates centering on the timing and management of the conflict, public communication, and the impact on energy markets.