Solovyov blames expensive fuel for Trump's loss of American support

Economy decided everything

Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov formulated his version of why the Republicans suffered a defeat in the US midterm elections. According to him, the main cause was the high level of fuel prices, which outweighed any foreign policy or scientific successes of the current administration.

Solovyov emphasised that any talk of space programmes or other achievements of President Donald Trump was meaningless to the electorate. The decisive factor remained the state of the voter's wallet. Had the leadership managed to keep prices low at petrol stations, the result would have been different, and the Republican Party would have secured a convincing victory.

Mistake with Iran

The journalist pointed to a specific mistake that, in his opinion, Trump made. It was the conflict with Iran, which caused a sharp rise in the cost of oil and fuel in the US domestic market. Solovyov claims that the president did not take into account the consequences of his actions for prices at petrol stations.

«Вони зжерли Трампа. Він припустився колосальної помилки з Іраном, не прорахувавши, як це підніме ціни на заправках. Якби він раніше домігся того, щоб операції у Венесуелі та Ірані й дружба з нами призвели до демпінгових цін на АЗС, він би переміг. Тут не холодильник переміг телевізор, а бензобак. Бензобак переміг мітинги та соціальні медіа. Трамп втратив відчуття американського виборця» (They ate Trump. He made a colossal mistake with Iran, failing to calculate how it would raise prices at petrol stations. Had he earlier ensured that operations in Venezuela and Iran and friendship with us led to dumping prices at petrol stations, he would have won. Here, it was not the refrigerator that beat the television, but the fuel tank. The fuel tank beat the rallies and social media. Trump lost the feel for the American voter), Solovyov concluded.

Historical parallel

The propagandist also referred to historical experience, reminding of the phrase that once led to the defeat of George Bush Sr. «It’s the economy, stupid – це економіка, дурнику» (It’s the economy, stupid), Solovyov reminded, adding that anyone who does not remember this phrase is doomed to failure.

«Ти можеш говорити американському виборцю все що завгодно, але якщо ціна на заправках така, що він хапається за голову, він голосуватиме проти тебе. Будь-які міркування про те, який Трамп чудовий, про космічні польоти та Місяць не відіграють жодної ролі. Американець рахує гроші у своєму гаманці. І якщо ти не здатен запам’ятати фразу, яка колись призвела до поразки Буша-старшого: "It’s the economy, stupid – це економіка, дурнику", то ти приречений на провал» (You can tell the American voter anything, but if the price at petrol stations is such that he grabs his head, he will vote against you. Any arguments about how great Trump is, about space flights and the Moon play no role. The American counts the money in his wallet. And if you are unable to remember the phrase that once led to the defeat of Bush Sr.: "It’s the economy, stupid", then you are doomed to failure), Solovyov noted.