ECONOMY/ELECTION/GOP/MIDDLE EAST/OIL/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. President Donald Trump linked American support for Middle Eastern countries to oil prices on Thursday [9-20-18] as he again urged OPEC to lower prices…The Republican president has lashed out at the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries over the past several months. Rising U.S. gasoline prices could create a political headache for Trump before November congressional elections by offsetting Republican claims that his tax cuts and rollbacks of federal regulations have helped boost the U.S. economy. Trump has called on Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s largest producer, to raise output, saying that it should help the United States lower fuel prices since Washington is aiding Riyadh in its struggle against Iran.”
–Reuters Staff, “Trump says OPEC producers must bring prices down,” Reuters, September 20, 2018 4:59 am