Trump Accuses Houthis of Escalating Attacks to Drive Up Oil Prices Ahead of US Elections

United States President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the Houthi rebel group in Yemen is intensifying attacks on Saudi Arabian infrastructure with the apparent aim of increasing energy prices in the period leading up to the US midterm elections. Trump characterized the Houthis' actions as "very badly" behaved and reiterated his threat of increased US military action in the Middle East following the November elections.

"They’ve [the Houthis] been silent for a long time, but now they’ve emerged again, probably at the behest of Iran, which is a Failing Nation, with No Navy, No Airforce, the World’s Worst Economy, and 301 percent Inflation, in a very nasty way, hitting Saudi Arabia, and purposefully trying to drive up Oil Prices, probably prior to the US Elections," Trump posted on Truth Social, adding, "NOT NICE."

The President's decision to initiate military action against Iran, in conjunction with Israel, in February has been linked to surging energy prices and growing concerns over the cost of living in the US. Voters in the US are soon to decide whether President Trump's Republican Party will retain its majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Democrats are looking to leverage voter dissatisfaction with the war and rising costs to gain control of one or both houses of Congress, which would enable them to obstruct Trump's legislative agenda for the remainder of his term.

Trump also remarked on Tuesday that he would "never forget" the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, suggesting a potential renewal of US military strikes after the midterms, which are widely viewed as a referendum on Trump’s second term.

"Somebody should explain to them [the Houthis] that I’m not running in the Elections, I’ve already won, IN A MASSIVE LANDSLIDE, but I’ll be there after the Elections, and I will never forget!" he stated.

Recent polls indicate that Trump's war on Iran is significantly unpopular, with an AP-NORC poll revealing that approximately 70 percent of voters believe the war is not worth fighting. Trump has dismissed unfavorable poll results as "fake," citing the attendance at his political rallies as evidence of his popularity.