US President Donald Trump on October 13 accused Yemen's Houthi forces of stepping up attacks on Saudi infrastructure in order to drive energy prices higher ahead of the US midterm elections.
Speaking on his Truth Social network, Trump said the Houthis were acting "very badly" and repeated his threat that the United States could intensify military strikes across the Middle East after the November vote.
"They [the Houthis] were quiet for a long period of time, but are now sprung back to life, possibly on the orders of Iran, a declining nation, no Navy, no Air Force, the worst economy in the world with 301% inflation, very viciously and purposely hitting Saudi Arabia and driving up oil prices, possibly before the US Election. NOT GOOD," Trump wrote.
Trump's decision to launch a war with Iran alongside Israel in February sent energy prices soaring and fueled concerns about the cost of living in the United States, where voters are about to decide whether the president's Republican Party keeps its majorities in the House and Senate.
Democrats hope to capitalize on the president's unpopularity and voter frustration over the war and rising costs to win control of one or both chambers of Congress, which could block Trump's legislative agenda for the rest of his term.
Trump added that he would "never forget" the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, in what appeared to be a threat to resume US military strikes after the midterms — a vote widely seen as a referendum on his second term.
"Somebody should explain to them [the Houthis] that I am not running in this Election, I have already won, in a LANDSLIDE, but I will be there after the Election, and I will never forget!" Trump declared.
Polls show Trump's war with Iran is deeply unpopular, with a recent AP-NORC survey finding that nearly 70% of voters said the war was not worth fighting.
Trump has dismissed unfavorable poll results as "fake" and cited attendance at his political rallies as evidence of support for him.
