Trump to Hold Rallies in Kansas and Iowa After Canceling Weekend Trips/ NEWSLOOKS/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ President Donald Trump will hold rallies in Iowa and Kansas after initially opting for telerallies instead. Democrats had questioned his crowd sizes. Trump had canceled weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa, replacing them with a telephone campaign push aimed at voters across nearly 20 states. The change followed his second South Carolina visit this month to support Sen. Darline Graham in an unexpectedly competitive race. Republicans are defending seats in traditionally favorable states as economic frustration and the Iran war shape the final days before Election Day.
Quick Look
- Canceled appearances: Trump dropped a Saturday rally in Kansas and a Sunday event in Iowa.
- Replacement strategy: The Republican National Committee announced a “72-hour sprint” of telerallies.
- National reach: Phone events are planned for nearly 20 states, with additional stops possible.
- Campaign workload: Trump had held 25 rallies in October as of Thursday.
- Health response: Trump said he felt “perfect” when questioned about the schedule change.
- South Carolina contest: He rallied behind Darline Graham against Democratic challenger Annie Andrews.
- Next scheduled rally: Trump plans to appear Friday in Daytona Beach, Florida.
- Senate battlegrounds: Competitive contests extend across Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa, Alaska and potentially Mississippi.
Deep Look
Trump Restores Iowa and Kansas Rallies to Sunday Schedule
President Donald Trump has rescheduled campaign rallies in Iowa and Kansas after previously canceling the appearances, according to a person familiar with the plans.
The president will visit both states Sunday for back-to-back events, the person said Friday, speaking anonymously because the schedule had not been publicly announced.
The Republican National Committee initially said Trump would replace the visits with telerallies to reach more voters. The revised plans accommodate both the newly added telephone appearances and the in-person rallies.
Trump also plans to campaign Friday in Daytona Beach, Florida. His Monday schedule, covering the final day before Election Day, has not been published.
Earlier Cancellations Drew Democratic Attacks and Republican Questions
Before the rallies were restored, Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed argued that Trump’s efforts to energize Republican voters had backfired.
El-Sayed, who faces Republican Mike Rogers, said Thursday night that the president had “given up.”
“He’s an old man, he’s a loser,” El-Sayed said. “He now understands that he has fully lost the midterms for his party.”
A strategist working with Republican Senate leadership also described widespread curiosity about the initial move to telerallies. The strategist spoke anonymously to discuss private conversations.
Trump has held rallies this month in smaller venues than many he previously filled. Telephone appearances typically require approximately 10 minutes of remarks, compared with his in-person speeches, which often exceed 90 minutes.
Trump Rejects Health Concerns After Demanding Campaign Stretch
The schedule changes followed an intensive campaign month. As of Thursday, Trump had held 25 rallies, below an earlier goal of more than 30.
His increasingly raspy voice drew attention during Monday’s appearance in Corinth, Mississippi.
“God didn’t make your vocal cords to do a rally every day,” he told supporters.
Trump rejected questions Thursday about whether health concerns explained the canceled Kansas visit.
“You’ve been following me for two weeks. I feel perfect,” he said.
Returning to the White House from South Carolinahe remained publicly confident about the election.
“We’re going to have a strong Tuesday night,” Trump said.
Trump Replaces Kansas and Iowa Visits With Telerallies
Trump canceled two weekend campaign rallies Thursday, opting for telephone appearances as Republicans enter the final days of an election that could cost them control of Congress.
Trump had been scheduled to campaign in Kansas on Saturday and Iowa on Sunday.
Instead, the Republican National Committee announced a “72-hour sprint” of telerallies designed to expand his reach across the country.
The RNC said events were planned for nearly 20 states, with more potentially to be announced.
The decision marked an abrupt change from Trump’s pledge to maintain a succession of in-person rallies through the campaign’s closing stretch. By Thursday, he had held 25 rallies during October, below a goal he had previously set above 30.
Returning to the White House, Trump nevertheless expressed confidence.
“We’re going to have a strong Tuesday night,” he said.
Trump Rejects Health Questions About Schedule Change
Trump’s increasingly raspy voice and demanding travel schedule had drawn attention.
At Monday’s rally in Corinth, Mississippi, he told supporters, “God didn’t make your vocal cords to do a rally every day.”
But he rejected a reporter’s suggestion Thursday that health concerns explained the canceled Kansas trip.
“You’ve been following me for two weeks. I feel perfect,” Trump said.
He argued that a visit to Kansas was unnecessary because Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who faces Democrat Adam Hamilton, was “doing very well.”
“I don’t feel I have to go to Kansas,” Trump added.
A strategist working with Republican Senate leadership said the change had prompted widespread curiosity in party circles. The strategist spoke anonymously to describe private discussions.
Phone Events Mean Shorter Remarks and Broader Reach
Trump has held this month’s rallies in smaller venues than many he previously filled.
The move to telerallies also changes the demands of each appearance. His telephone remarks are expected to last approximately 10 minutes, compared with in-person speeches that often exceed 90 minutes.
Trump still plans to travel to Daytona Beach, Florida, for a Friday rally.
It remained unclear whether additional in-person appearances would follow. The White House had not released his schedule for Monday, the campaign’s final day.
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed interpreted the cancellations as evidence that Trump’s efforts to energize Republican voters had failed.
He said the president had “given up.”
“He’s an old man, he’s a loser,” El-Sayed said Thursday night. “He now understands that he has fully lost the midterms for his party.”
South Carolina Visit Highlights Republican Anxiety
Before announcing the schedule changes, Trump campaigned Thursday in Rock Hill, South Carolina, supporting Republican Sen. Darline Graham.
The trip was his second to the state this month, underscoring concern about Graham’s contest against Democrat Annie Andrews.
South Carolina has not elected a Democratic senator in nearly three decades. But Andrews, a pediatrician who previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress, has mounted a substantial challenge by appealing to voters seeking change.
Her invitation to “try something new for once” comes amid dissatisfaction with the economy, gasoline prices and the Iran war.
Republicans also face tight contests in Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa and Alaska, while both parties are watching Mississippi’s Senate race.
Graham Works to Establish Her Own Political Identity
Darline Graham entered the Senate in July after Republican Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to complete the term of her brother, Lindsey Graham, following his sudden death.
She became the Republican nominee for a full six-year term in August but has struggled to build connections with voters quickly.
“He was a great politician,” Trump said of Lindsey Graham before promoting his sister’s candidacy. “She’s got the gene.”
Darline Graham credited Trump with having “delivered what Washington promised for decades.”
She warned that Andrews “would just throw it all away.”
At a Wednesday appearance in nearby Fort Mill, Andrews told voters that if they elected her and disliked her performance, “you can fire me in six years.”
Republican Divisions Complicate Graham’s Campaign
Rep. Ralph Norman, who lost to Graham in the Republican primary runoff, has criticized her qualifications and refused to campaign alongside her.
He has argued that the general election would be less competitive if he had won the nomination.
Some Republican voters are supporting Graham primarily because of party loyalty.
Lonnie Dean Johnson of Sumter, who backed Norman in the primary, described his support in those terms.
“She’s on a Republican ticket. I, by and large, support the Republican platform,” he said. “So, I support her and wish her well.”
Democrats Emphasize Household Costs in Senate Races
Democrats are expressing optimism about defeating Republican incumbents as voters continue to struggle with high prices.
At a Thursday rally in Toledo, Ohio Democratic Senate nominee Sherrod Brown focused on the pressure facing household budgets.
“Families see more money going out the door and not enough money coming in,” Brown said.
He accused Republican Sen. Jon Husted of “looking out for data centers and Wall Street.”
The affordability message has become central to Democratic efforts to compete beyond their traditional strongholds.
Alaska Investigation Adds Uncertainty to Closing Days
Alaska’s Senate race faced another escalation after The New York Times reported that Democratic nominee Mary Peltola’s campaign appeared involved in recruiting another candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan.
Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation, and the Justice Department issued new grand jury subpoenas Thursday, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Trump called the reported effort a “conspiracy” and demanded Peltola’s removal from the ballot. He also questioned whether she would be seated if she won.
Peltola’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the governor’s order.
During a campaign appearance in Soldotna, she characterized the Times report as a “distraction” from matters including Sullivan’s support for the Iran war.
California Election Scrutiny Also Expands
The Justice Department separately issued subpoenas to California officials as part of its scrutiny of election administration.
Earlier Thursday, a federal judge appointed a special master to assess the administration’s allegations that approximately 20,000 noncitizens were listed on California’s voter rolls.
Those allegations remained subject to review.
The legal developments and late campaign changes illustrate the uncertainty facing both parties as they decide how to deploy their remaining time and resources before Nov. 3.
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