Trump: "Will Use the Defense Production Act to Expand Crude Oil Refining Capacity... We Have Plenty of Crude Oil"

"I will allow biofuels to be sold year-round"
Moves to hold on to Iowa, a Republican stronghold

AP Yonhap News

U.S. President Donald Trump said on October 22 (local time) that he would use the Defense Production Act to expand crude oil refining capacity. With the midterm elections just around the corner, the move is seen as a strategy to win back voters in rural parts of the U.S. Midwest, where support has waned amid soaring diesel prices.

According to CNN, Trump said in a midterm campaign speech during a visit to Sioux City, Iowa, that day: "We will use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to invest $150 million (about 198.4 billion won) to expand U.S. refining capacity and increase diesel and gasoline production. We already have a lot of crude oil—more than Russia and Saudi Arabia combined. What we need, though, is refineries, and we are building them quickly."

The remarks are seen as a signal that he will focus on measures to stabilize fuel prices and win back public support, as soaring diesel prices across the United States have hurt his standing with rural voters in the Midwest. U.S. diesel prices surpassed $6 per gallon last month and have continued to hover at $6.20 to $6.30. As diesel prices have surged to record highs, public dissatisfaction has grown, along with opposition to the war with Iran, which is seen as a factor driving up fuel prices.

Along with measures to stabilize diesel prices, Trump highlighted the benefits of a fuel assistance program for rural areas. "Of the $8 billion fuel assistance program created for farmers during harvest season, $400 million is set to go to Iowa farmers," he said. "We will also allow E15, a blended fuel containing biofuel, to be sold year-round, permanently."

Biofuel made with ethanol extracted from corn, which is required to make up 15% of the blend, is a major source of income for U.S. farms, but its sale has been banned during the summer over concerns about environmental pollution. The plan is to lift the restriction and allow year-round sales to increase farm revenues.

The reason Trump is making a particular effort in Iowa is that the state, once a Republican stronghold, has become highly competitive, according to various polls. Trump previously won Iowa by more than 10 percentage points in all three presidential elections—in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

During his speech that day, after referring to the constitutional amendment that limits presidents to being elected twice, Trump said, "It seems to say I can't run again." He nevertheless claimed that the 2020 presidential election, which he lost, was rigged, adding, "I think I have the right to run again because they cheated."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.