Trump supporters confront Iran, affordability concerns with a message for critics: 'Give him time'

Trump supporters in Georgia are standing behind the president amid rising affordability concerns and higher gas prices stemming from the Iran war, with one voter calling him the "best president" in her lifetime.

While Trump' s approval rating teetered at 36% and his disapproval rating stood at 64%, praise for Trump was high in Perry, Georgia, Saturday as he campaigned alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, CEO of a healthcare staffing group; Rep. Mike Collins, R- Ga., who is vying to unseat Sen. Jon Ossoff, D- Ga.; and candidates in House races across the state.

The race for Ossoff's seat is highly contentious, as Republicans are seeking a pickup that would help them maintain control of the Senate. Ossoff won the seat in a January 2021 runoff election by 1.22% — less than 55,000 votes. Trump, meanwhile, won Georgia in 2024 by 2.2%. He told voters Saturday to act like "he's on the ballot" come Nov. 3.

Rallygoer Gloria Barkman said she supports Trump because he delivers on his promises.

 "I know people are upset because things don't look good with the gas and everything like that, but give him time and they'll be seeing the difference," Barkman said.

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Barkman's comments come as gas prices in Georgia hover around $3.66 per gallon, compared with an average of $2.72 per gallon in February, before the start of the Iran war. Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and threats to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have destabilized global oil markets, sending prices higher worldwide. The Iran war has been a major point of contention during Trump's second term, with about 65% of Americans disapproving of Trump's actions in the conflict, according to Pew.

However, rallygoer Jim Taylor, an Air Force veteran, said temporarily higher prices at the pump are a price worth paying to ensure Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapon.

"I guess what I'm most proud of is what the president's done in Iran," Taylor told Fox News Digital.

"I know he's got a lot of criticism for it, but being a military veteran and a strong supporter of the military itself,  I'm very, very proud that he was at least willing to step up and do what had to be done — to  take care of the bigger picture because gas prices really wouldn't matter if a nuclear weapon went off in our country," Taylor continued.

Trump said during the rally that oil prices would come down soon and also touted an inflation rate of 1.7% over the last three months.

However, the latest official annual CPI inflation rate was 3.7% in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Meanwhile, rallygoer TJ Barb applauded Trump for the creation of Trump Accounts, investment accounts established under Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

"The investment in children — that's significant," Barb told Fox News Digital. "Financial intelligence. He's going to start giving that to our kids."

Barkman said she is voting to protect the country.

"I don't want us to lose our country because we stand for the  United States, and I'm going full force for Trump in supporting him and the Republicans," Barkmann said.

Taylor described the elections as an "uphill battle" and said that although he wasn't as familiar with Collins before the campaign cycle, Trump's backing carries significant weight.

"I would vote for anybody that Trump endorses," Taylor said. "I think Mike's a good candidate."

Barb, who described himself as not very political, said he was also not as familiar with Collins before this midterm cycle but trusts Trump's endorsement.

"He can't be bought," Barb told Fox News Digital. 

"So when he's backing these guys, we know, all right, well, he's already shown what he's done, so this is what we're going to do," Barb told Fox News Digital. "And so it's just cut and paste and let's get another guy up in there."

But after seeing Collins on Saturday, Barb said he identified with the candidate beyond Trump's endorsement.

"Hearing his story, Blue collar stuff," Barb told Fox News Digital. "He's gone through it, I think that's what helps him relate to other folks. He's straight southern Georgia right there, I'll tell you. He's a good old, good old boy."

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John Salvesen, the Republican nominee in Georgia's 5th Congressional District, a Democratic stronghold in Atlanta previously represented by civil rights icon John Lewis, said he is a big fan of Collins.

"I think he's wonderful. I like him a lot because he's a lot like me, we're just working dudes," Salvesen told Fox News Digital. "He's a logger. I'm a handyman, and we just didn't like what we saw, so it prompted us to run."

"I think Jon Ossoff is terrible," Salvesen continued. "And I'm not saying that because I'm Republican, I'm saying it because I studied him, and Mike Collins is a superior candidate to him if he can get the message out to the right people."

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"I think once you know Mike Collins or Rick Jackson with or without Trump's support you can't help but go for these guys not because they're Republicans because they are awesome candidates," Salvesen continued.

Meanwhile, Barkman said she has followed Collins during his time in the House of Representatives and praised his voting record.

"I've always been impressed with him," Barkman told Fox News Digital. "He's very personable, friendly. He reaches out to the people, and we love him."

A spokesperson for Collins said he is "proud" to have Trump in his corner and is "out every day earning the trust of Georgians."

"Like President Trump, Georgians are backing Mike Collins because he delivered the Laken Riley Act to deport criminal illegals, cut taxes for hardworking families, and is the only candidate who can beat radical leftist Jon Ossoff. Ossoff hates President Trump more than he loves Georgia, and Mike Collins is the bipartisan workhorse who will work with anybody to make Georgia safer and more prosperous," Meyer Siegfried, a spokesperson for Collins, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.