Former Donald Trump Supporter Literally States 'Gas Prices Are Starting To Kill Me' at Rally Event

A former Donald Trump supporter told a television reporter that 'gas prices are starting to kill me' outside the president's rally in Mobile, Alabama, putting fuel costs at the centre of conversations among some attendees at an event aimed at energising Republican voters ahead of November's midterm elections.

Trump held the 2 October rally at the University of South Alabama's Mitchell Center as he campaigned for Republican candidates, including Alabama gubernatorial candidate Tommy Tuberville and Alabama state Rep. Rhett Marques, who is running for the US House.

The event came as Americans faced growing concerns about the cost of living, including the price of filling their vehicles.

Trump Rally Attendees Voice Gas Price Frustration

MS NOW spoke with several people attending the rally who expressed frustration over fuel prices. One former Trump supporter said: 'I want gas prices to go down! Gas prices are starting to kill me! And I'm hoping that he's going to talk about how he's going to change that.'

Another attendee said they were 'really concerned' about gas prices and wanted to know how Trump planned to bring them down.

A third attendee, dressed as George Washington in a white wig and blue jacket, said: 'The gas! It's ridiculous. Everything is more expensive. I give him a negative. Zero stars!'

But the concerns were not shared by everyone. Scott Carpenter, 64, a Trump supporter from nearby Citronelle, told The Associated Press that rising fuel prices were not affecting him personally because he did not drive much.

He said, however, that record-high diesel prices were affecting friends who rely more heavily on fuel. 'They don't like it,' Carpenter said. 'They're very upset. They love Donald Trump. They just want the diesel price to come down.'

Fuel Prices Test Trump's Economic Message

The complaints came as Americans faced rising concern over the cost of basic goods and fuel. A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that only 17 per cent of US adults approved of Trump's handling of the cost of living, while 26 per cent approved of his handling of the economy.

The poll, conducted from 24 to 28 September, also found that about half of US adults were extremely or very concerned about being able to afford to fill their gas tanks, up from 39 per cent in July.

Trump has argued that Americans may have to accept higher energy costs in the short term to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He has also predicted that oil prices will fall when the war with Iran ends.

The president highlighted the G7's agreement to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from emergency reserves through the International Energy Agency, as governments sought to ease pressure on energy markets.

Trump campaigned on lowering energy costs and has continued to promise that prices will fall, making fuel costs a recurring part of the political debate before the midterms.

Trump Pitches Bridge as Voters Focus on Bills

Trump also used the Mobile rally to promote infrastructure investment, including the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project connecting Mobile and the Eastern Shore. He joked that the bridge should be named after him.

The $3.2 billion Phase One project includes a new six-lane Mobile River Bridge and improvements to traffic capacity across Mobile Bay. Financing includes a $2.52 billion federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan.

The project broke ground on 2 October, the same day as Trump's rally, with construction expected to take about five years.

Gas Prices Add Pressure Ahead of Midterms

Trump's Mobile appearance was designed to support Republican candidates and build enthusiasm in Alabama, a state that remains firmly Republican.

Yet the complaints about fuel prices showed the gap that can emerge between political loyalty and economic frustration. Carpenter's comments offered one example: he said his friends still supported Trump while wanting diesel prices to come down.

The AP-NORC findings point to a broader challenge. About six in 10 Republicans disapproved of Trump's handling of the cost of living, while 65 per cent of US adults said Trump's policies were more responsible for persistently high prices than factors outside his control.

For Trump, promises of lower energy costs may resonate with voters, but the prices they are paying now remain difficult to ignore.

At his Alabama rally, one former supporter put that frustration more bluntly than any poll could. 'Gas prices are starting to kill me.'