Trump says he will respect US midterm results if vote is fair

US President Donald Trump said he would only respect the results of the upcoming congressional midterm elections if they are fair, just days ahead of the vote scheduled for November 3. His remarks reignited debate over his stance on the integrity of US elections, amid repeated but unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.

Trump stated he would work with Democrats if Republicans lose control of Congress, but emphasized that as president, he holds a "strong" veto power, allowing him to block legislation passed by Congress.

The president noted that previous presidents have managed divided government, reaching agreements despite split control between the parties. However, Trump expressed hope that Republicans would retain their majority in both the House and Senate in the upcoming elections.

The November 3 elections are particularly significant for the US administration, as they will determine the balance of power in Congress for the second half of Trump’s term and his ability to advance his legislative agenda.

Trump also predicted that oil prices would "drop very sharply, very soon," announcing that the US would soon receive a shipment of one million barrels of oil from Venezuela, which he said Caracas had gifted to the United States.

Speaking to the media before boarding Air Force One en route to Texas for campaign rallies, Trump said the US had "very successfully" taken control of Venezuela, adding: "They sent me a gift of a shipment of one million barrels of oil, and I am giving it to the United States of America."

The president added that Foreign Minister Marco Rubio would be waiting for the shipment, expressing his belief that the arrival of Venezuelan oil would be accompanied by a sharp drop in prices in the near future.