Trump-backed Senate candidate says 'Groceries cost too much,' calls for Iran war to 'end quickly'

Former Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican Michigan U.S. Senate candidate backed by President Donald Trump, noted the financial strain Americans are facing, declared that the Iran war must "end quickly," and called for a diesel export embargo until the conflict concludes in a social media video.

"Michigan families are struggling with the price of everyday life. Groceries cost too much. We have to bring prices down. The war with Iran needs to end, and end quickly. When it does, energy costs will plummet. But Michigan families can’t afford to wait for that to happen," Rogers said in the video.

"I previously called for the suspension of the state and federal gas tax, 70 cents a gallon," he said.

The state's motor fuel tax, which applies to both gas and diesel, is 52.4 cents per gallon.

"Federal taxes include excise taxes of 18.3 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.3 cents per gallon on diesel fuel, and a Leaking Underground Storage Tank fee of 0.1 cents per gallon on both fuels," according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

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Former Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican from Michigan and U.S. Senate candidate, speaks during the second day of the Republican Midterm Convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

While Rogers does not appear to have called for a suspension of the federal diesel tax, he called for a diesel export embargo.

"Diesel fuels the trucks that bring groceries to this store. It fuels the tractors that grow our food. And when diesel costs more, it costs more to grow it, ship it, stock it, and ultimately, buy it. So until this war is over, I’m calling for a temporary embargo on American diesel exports," he said.

Trump has endorsed Rogers, including in a video posted last week on social media.

"Mike Rogers has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next U.S. Senator from Michigan — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" the video's caption read.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House on Tuesday.

The AAA national average price for diesel is at a record high of $6.5276 as of Sept. 22.

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Rogers is running against Democratic Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

Responding to Rogers' video, El-Sayed targeted his Republican rival in a post on X, writing, "You've spent your entire campaign supporting the war in Iran. Liar, coward, fraud."

Former Rep. Justin Amash, who finished the 2024 GOP Michigan U.S. Senate primary in a distant second place behind Rogers, wrote in a post on X, "When inveterate war hawk Mike Rogers suddenly declares, 'The war in Iran needs to end—and end quickly,' you know he’s losing—and losing badly."

Fox News Digital reached out to Rogers' campaign on Tuesday.

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U.S. Democratic Senate candidate from Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, poses for a photo at the Labor Day parade in Detroit, Mich., on Sept. 7, 2026. (JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP via Getty Images)

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While it was a close race, Rogers lost the 2024 U.S. Senate general election to then-Rep. Elissa Slotkin.