President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled planned campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa, opting instead to participate in tele-rallies across nearly 20 states in the final days before Tuesday’s midterm elections. The Republican National Committee (RNC) confirmed the cancellations, stating the shift aims to maximize Trump’s outreach through phone events.
Key developments:
- The Salina, Kansas rally scheduled for Saturday and the Dubuque, Iowa rally planned for Sunday were both canceled.
- Trump will conduct tele-rallies in at least 19 states, including Kansas and Iowa, as part of a 72-hour sprint before Election Day.
- The RNC and MAGA Inc, a pro-Trump funding group, will host the phone-in events.
Trump’s stated rationale:
Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews that he did not “feel like I have to go to Kansas,” asserting that Republican Senator Roger Marshall is “doing very well” in his race against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton. He added, “We are going to have a strong Tuesday night.” The RNC later confirmed the cancellation of the Iowa event, citing the need for broader outreach.
Context of the campaign blitz:
Since October 1, Trump has held 25 rallies in 19 states, primarily in rural areas of Republican-leaning states, as part of an effort to boost GOP turnout. He acknowledged the physical toll of the campaign schedule, remarking in Mississippi on Monday that “God didn’t make your vocal cords to do a rally every day.” Trump also dismissed concerns about his health during a heated exchange with a reporter, stating, “I feel perfect,” and calling the journalist “disgusting.”
Vice President JD Vance’s role:
Vice President JD Vance also canceled a planned Friday news conference in St. Cloud, Minnesota, related to the administration’s “War on Fraud” initiative, though the reason for the cancellation was not disclosed. Vance leads the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
Republican strategy and competitive races:
The cancellations come as Republicans face competitive races in multiple states, including South Carolina, where Trump campaigned for Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham on Thursday. Graham, appointed to fill the seat previously held by her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, is facing a strong challenge from Democrat Annie Andrews. Republicans have not lost a Senate race in South Carolina in nearly three decades, but economic concerns and the war in Iran have tightened the contest.
The RNC framed the tele-rallies as an opportunity to reach voters across a broader geographic area, with RNC Chairman Joe Gruters stating, “Voters across the country want to hear from President Trump before Election Day, and this 72-hour sprint will be a huge boost in the closing days.”
Remaining campaign schedule:
Trump is still scheduled to hold an in-person rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday. The president has not indicated whether additional in-person events will occur before Election Day.