Ahead of the start of the convention, President Trump blamed the Iran war for the increase in oil and gas prices and said he thought costs would fall after the midterm elections. When asked to explain why oil prices are now above $100 a barrel, he responded: "It's very easy to explain to America, all you have to do is say, 'Will you let Iran have a nuclear weapon?' And the answer is no."

"Shortly, but right after the election," Trump said Wednesday, "oil prices are going to be tumbling downward, they're going to be tumbling down, and we'll get them down for gasoline, we'll get them below $2 per gallon."