President Donald Trump has canceled a scheduled campaign rally in Salina, Kansas, originally planned for Saturday, October 31, according to multiple sources. The event, which would have been Trump’s only in-person rally the weekend before Election Day, has been replaced with a series of more than 20 tele-rallies between now and Tuesday’s midterm elections.
The cancellation was confirmed by two White House officials, a GOP source, and Danedri Herbert, chair of the Kansas Republican Party. The Salina Regional Airport Authority also announced that all Salina events were canceled due to scheduling conflicts with Trump’s itinerary.
Trump’s new strategy
The White House stated that Trump will instead conduct virtual rallies to connect with voters across competitive races. A spokesperson said these events would allow the president to highlight his accomplishments and expand his reach nationwide. The shift marks a notable change from Trump’s previous campaign approach, which had emphasized in-person rallies as a key driver of Republican turnout.
As of Wednesday, October 28, Trump had traveled to 19 states in October, appearing at rallies on 22 of 28 days. His campaign events averaged 1.5 hours in length, and he returned to the White House after midnight on seven occasions following late-night rallies.
Race context in Kansas
The canceled rally was intended to support Sen. Roger Marshall, the Republican incumbent facing a competitive race against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, a Methodist megachurch pastor. Recent polling shows Hamilton gaining ground in a state Trump won by 16 percentage points in the 2020 presidential election. The last time Kansas elected a Democratic U.S. senator was in 1939.
Previous disruptions at Trump’s Kansas event
Trump’s last appearance in Kansas, held earlier this month at the Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, was interrupted by protesters. Trump claimed the demonstrators were paid to attend, though no evidence supported this assertion. At least 11 people were escorted from the venue during the event.
During that rally, Trump also drew criticism for using the antisemitic slur “shylock” while discussing Marshall’s past medical debt collection practices. Trump stated: “And they made it like, oh, he was some kind of a shylock-type guy. And if he didn’t make these requests, he would be breaking the law.”
Uncertainty over Dubuque rally
As of the latest reporting, no decision has been made regarding Trump’s scheduled rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday, November 1. A White House official described the overall strategy shift as a “shotgun approach” to maximize outreach in key races before Election Day.
The White House has not provided additional details on the tele-rallies’ format, timing, or targeted states.