With the midterm elections less than two weeks away, the Trump administration has rolled out a string of “America First” economic measures, from fuel relief for farmers to a massive new steel plant, aimed at easing costs and rebuilding American industry.

Get prayer updates from IFA.

From The National Pulse:

View Comments (0)

In the run-up to the November midterm elections, which are projected to be tight, the Trump administration has announced several economic nationalist measures, suggesting that the White House believes a renewed focus on “America First” economic policy can improve the GOP’s fortunes.

…

On October 20, President Donald J. Trump announced an $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program to help farmers cope with high diesel prices during this harvest. The Department of Agriculture will implement the program through the Farm Service Agency, with farmers receiving one-time payments calculated by a uniform formula. “When Republicans win, we will pass even more funding for our Great Farmers, and Fuel prices will come tumbling down as soon as the Iran War is over, which will happen very quickly!” the President posted on Truth Social on Tuesday.

…

On September 28, President Trump announced a $15 billion planned steel complex in Iowa by Mesabi Metallics. The project would become the largest steel plant ever built in U.S. “Today, we’re thrilled to announce that Mesabi Metallics will be building the largest steel plant in American history in the great state of Iowa,” the President announced at the White House in September. The complex is projected to create 1,750 permanent jobs and support up to 6,000 construction jobs in the state. The first phase is expected to produce 7.5 million tons of steel annually, rising to about ten million tons.

One of the most striking moves is a diesel arrangement with Russia. According to the report, President Trump announced on October 9 that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to American and global markets, with another 500,000 tons in November and 1,000,000 tons after that. The deal followed direct talks between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as the administration’s decision last month to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian fuel. The report argues the White House is prioritizing Americans’ living costs over foreign policy optics tied to the Ukraine war, as affordability remains a top concern for independent and swing voters.

The administration is also using access to the American market as leverage. In September, President Trump threatened to block Canadian aerospace company Bombardier from selling aircraft in the U.S. unless it starts manufacturing here, amid a broader trade dispute with Canada. Meanwhile, a new White House Council of Economic Advisers report credits the President’s agenda with 72,000 new manufacturing jobs in 2026, a 25 percent rise in manufacturing job openings, a 25 percent drop in layoffs, and a record $220 billion in goods exports. The S&P Global Manufacturing PMI reached 55.9 in September, its highest level since President Trump took office.

Let’s pray for America’s farmers as they bring in this year’s harvest under the weight of high diesel prices, and for the families and workers feeling the squeeze at the pump and the grocery store. Let’s pray for a swift and decisive end to the war with Iran, and for President Trump and his advisers to have wisdom as they balance relief for American families against the consequences of easing pressure on Russia. Let’s pray that the factories and jobs being promised would truly take root and restore good, dignified work to American communities, and that voters would weigh these policies with discernment as they head to the polls.

How are rising fuel and living costs affecting your community? Share your prayers for America’s farmers and workers in the comments.

(Excerpt from The National Pulse. Photo Credit: Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)