Trump predicts Republican gains as Ohio rally focuses on prices and data centres

US President Donald Trump has predicted a strong Republican performance in the November 3 midterm elections while campaigning in Ohio. Speaking at a rally in Vandalia, Mr Trump said there would be a “big surprise” and urged supporters to vote for Republican candidates, including Senator Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. He said Republicans would win decisively if supporters turned out.

The rally took place as polls suggested Democrats could gain ground and several Republican senators faced competitive races. The supplied report said Mr Trump’s approval ratings had fallen amid higher petrol and staple prices and the US-Israel war on Iran. Ohio petrol prices had risen 35 per cent over the previous year to an average of $4.16 a gallon, according to the American Automobile Association.

Canadian retaliatory tariffs linked to Mr Trump’s trade policy were also reported to affect about $3bn of Ohio exports, based on 2025 figures. Mr Husted, who is running against Democrat Sherrod Brown, said he was focused on lower prices. He also defended the need to win the Iran war on US terms, according to the report.

Mr Trump devoted significant attention to data centres, particularly facilities built for artificial intelligence. He said his administration wanted them to benefit local communities and warned that shutting them down could drive investment to China. Data centres have become a political issue in Ohio because of concerns over electricity prices, farmland and water.

Mr Brown accused Mr Husted of giving Big Tech billions of dollars in tax breaks and leaving Ohio residents to pay the costs. A Senate bill sponsored by Mr Husted that would have asked utility regulators to charge large power users more was blocked by nearly all Democrats, the report said.