Trump highlights Venezuela oil deal in Texas amid rising fuel prices

US President Donald Trump is set to campaign in Texas on Tuesday for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, as Democrats intensify their efforts in the state's pivotal midterm election.

The campaign trip includes two rallies, starting in Corpus Christi and continuing in Lubbock, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to join the president during the visit.

During the trip, Trump and Rubio are reportedly planning to display a tanker carrying Venezuelan crude oil intended for Texas refineries, as part of efforts to highlight the president's oil agreement with Venezuela's new US-backed government.

The visit occurs amid rising oil prices, which have been influenced by the war in Iran, and have increased economic strain on American households, complicating the political landscape for Republicans.

The Texas Senate race has become highly competitive, with recent polls indicating a tight contest between Paxton and Democratic candidate James Talarico.

Paxton faces several controversies, while Talarico aims to secure a rare Democratic Senate victory in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the US Senate in decades.