Trump says Houthis are trying to drive up oil prices before US elections

United States President Donald Trump has accused Yemen's Houthi movement of stepping up attacks on infrastructure in Saudi Arabia in an effort to push up oil prices ahead of the US midterm elections. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, he said the group had been behaving "very badly" and suggested the attacks were timed to affect energy costs before voters go to the polls in November. He also said the Houthis had been silent for a long time before emerging again.

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Trump said the group was acting "probably at the behest of Iran" and described Iran as a failing nation with no navy, no air force and high inflation. He added that the Houthis were "purposefully trying to drive up Oil Prices" before the election and ended the post with the words: "NOT NICE." The statement did not provide evidence for the allegation, and it was not immediately clear whether the attacks he referred to had caused any new disruption to Saudi infrastructure. The comments come as energy prices remain politically sensitive in the United States, where voters are due to decide whether Republicans keep control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Trump linked the issue to the wider conflict in the Middle East and repeated a threat that the United States could step up military attacks across the region after the November vote. He also said he would "never forget" the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, suggesting the issue could remain part of his foreign policy messaging after the election. The remarks also reflect the broader way in which Middle East violence has become tied to domestic political debate in Washington.

Trump has argued that his actions in the region are necessary, while Democrats are hoping to use voter frustration over war and rising costs to win control of one or both chambers of Congress. The dispute over energy prices is therefore not only about markets, but also about the political consequences of conflict and the cost of living. The Houthis, based in Yemen, have long been involved in regional tensions that have affected shipping, energy infrastructure and security calculations across the Gulf.

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Saudi Arabia has previously been a target of attacks linked to the wider conflict, and any renewed pressure on its infrastructure could raise concerns about supply stability. Trump's comments also point to the continuing role of Iran in US political rhetoric, with the president again framing the Houthis as acting under Tehran's influence. What remains unclear is whether there has been any fresh attack that would support Trump's claim, and whether US officials will respond publicly to the allegation.

It is also not clear how much immediate impact the remarks may have on oil markets or on the election campaign. The issue is likely to remain under watch as the midterms approach and as tensions in the Middle East continue to shape political debate in the United States.

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