On the eve of a midterm election that will test whether Republicans keep their narrow hold on Congress, President Donald Trump has set aside the in-person rally circuit that defined his last four weeks. He cancelled stops in Salina, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa, and his allies say he will speak to supporters by phone instead. The shift reflects both the physical weight of relentless travel and a quiet reassessment of where his presence still matters, as one of the most closely watched elections in recent memory draws to its close.
Trump Cancels Kansas and Iowa Rallies, Will Phone In to Midterm Events Instead
"God didn't make your vocal cords to do a rally every day."
Mark
So what actually changed on Thursday?
Mimi
Two in-person rallies were canceled, Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday. Phone-in events will replace them.
Mark
Why does Kansas stand out?
Mimi
Senator Roger Marshall, a Republican, is in an unexpectedly competitive race against Democrat Adam Hamilton. Trump said he didn't feel he had to go there.
Luke
Worth noting that's Trump's own framing. He said Marshall is doing very well, but that's his assessment, not polling we've been shown.
Mark
And the Iowa cancellation?
Mimi
The RNC announced it in a statement. Iowa has several competitive congressional races.
Luke
The reporting doesn't say why the RNC canceled. We know the fact, not the reason.
Mark
Is fatigue the explanation?
Mimi
He's talked about the strain, including the hoarse voice in Mississippi on Monday. But on Thursday he said, "I feel perfect."
Luke
Right, so linking the cancellations to his health or stamina is inference. Nobody on record has said that's the cause.
Mark
What's still on the schedule?
Mimi
Florida on Friday, other in-person stops, and tele-rallies from MAGA Inc in at least 19 states.
Luke
And how the tele-rallies will work, or how many people will join, isn't spelled out yet.
O Pulso
- Trump scrapped weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa just days before Tuesday's midterm vote, shocking campaign watchers.
- A Kansas Senate race once considered safe for Republicans has tightened, and Trump says he does not feel he must go there.
- His voice has grown hoarse and his speeches run past an hour, and he brushed off questions about whether he is worn down.
- MAGA Inc. is organizing tele-rallies in at least 19 states, with a Florida appearance still planned for Friday.
- Republicans now rely on remote outreach and a final push to hold their narrow control of Congress.
On the eve of a midterm election that will test whether Republicans keep their narrow hold on Congress, President Donald Trump has set aside the in-person rally circuit that defined his last four weeks. He cancelled stops in Salina, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa, and his allies say he will speak to supporters by phone instead. The shift reflects both the physical weight of relentless travel and a quiet reassessment of where his presence still matters, as one of the most closely watched elections in recent memory draws to its close.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled two weekend campaign stops, one in Salina, Kansas, and one in Dubuque, Iowa. His allies said he would instead join rallies by phone, bringing an end to four weeks of nonstop in-person travel aimed at helping Republicans before Tuesday's midterms.
Asked about it, Trump said he did not "feel like I have to go to Kansas," where Senator Roger Marshall now faces a surprisingly close challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton. Trump insisted Marshall was "doing very well" and promised a strong Tuesday night. The Republican National Committee later confirmed it was also dropping a planned Iowa event.
The pace of the past weeks had been punishing. Since October 1, Trump has held 25 rallies across 19 states, and his speeches often stretched beyond an hour. Sounding hoarse in Mississippi, he admitted that "God didn't make your vocal cords to do a rally every day."
When a Reuters reporter asked after South Carolina whether he was tired of travelling, Trump shot back, "I feel perfect," and boarded his motorcade. Still, a Florida rally is expected Friday, and MAGA Inc. plans tele-rallies in at least 19 states before the polls open.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump scrapped two weekend campaign stops, one in Salina, Kansas, set for Saturday and one in Dubuque, Iowa, set for Sunday. His allies said he would instead phone in to rallies around the country, ending four weeks of in-person travel meant to help Republicans in Tuesday's midterm elections.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he did not "feel like I have to go to Kansas." That state has a Senate race that has turned unexpectedly competitive: Republican Senator Roger Marshall is facing Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton. Trump said of Marshall, "He is doing very well," and added, "We are going to have a strong Tuesday night."
Later in the day, the Republican National Committee said in a statement that it was also canceling a planned rally in Iowa, a state with several competitive congressional races.
The pace of the preceding weeks was heavy. Since October 1, Trump has held 25 rallies in 19 states, often speaking on behalf of his party in rural areas of Republican-friendly states. Tuesday's elections will decide whether Republicans keep their narrow control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
In place of the canceled appearances, MAGA Inc, a campaign funding group aligned with Trump, said it would host a series of "tele-rallies" with the president in at least 19 states before Election Day. Kansas and Iowa are among them. Trump is still expected to travel to rallies in several states before Tuesday, including one in Florida on Friday.
The toll of the schedule has shown up in his own remarks. His recent speeches have each run more than an hour, and Trump has acknowledged they are demanding. Sounding hoarse in Mississippi on Monday, he said, "God didn't make your vocal cords to do a rally every day."
On Thursday, after campaigning in South Carolina for Senator Darline Graham, Trump ridiculed a Reuters reporter who asked how he felt after weeks of rallies and whether he was sick of traveling. "You've been following me for two weeks," he said before boarding his motorcade back to the White House. "I feel perfect."
What to watch now is the Friday Florida stop and the tele-rallies in at least 19 states, along with the Kansas Senate race, which Trump has chosen not to visit in person days before the vote.
Citações Notáveis
He is doing very well. We are going to have a strong Tuesday night.— President Donald Trump, on Senator Roger Marshall
You've been following me for two weeks. I feel perfect.— President Donald Trump, to a Reuters reporter
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