Trump Cuts Iowa and Kansas Rallies for Tele-Rallies, Then Reverses Course
The Republican National Committee announced a schedule change less than 24 hours before the events, citing efficiency, but in-person stops returned for Sunday.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
President Donald Trump is treating the 2026 midterm cycle as a farewell tour.
He has held more than 25 rallies in October, focusing on red states where Republicans face stiff competition. His goal is to help handpicked Senate candidates, Darline Graham in South Carolina and Michael Whatley in North Carolina, gain traction with voters who have shown little enthusiasm.
Trump is not on the ballot this year. He is asking supporters to vote as if he is, arguing that the election is a referendum on his policies. At a rally in Greenville, North Carolina, he asked the crowd to pretend he was running because opponents want to dismantle his tax cuts and border measures.
The campaign has relied on familiar themes and new anecdotes. Trump frequently praises tariffs, which he calls his fifth favorite word. He also circulates a joke about Ohio Senator Jon Husted’s physique, claiming the story helped Husted’s polling by 12 points. Husted was not in the state for that rally, and Trump made the same joke in Texas while discussing candidate Ken Paxton.
The messaging is not always straightforward. Trump promised a $5,000 dividend to American adults if Republicans win both chambers of Congress. He immediately noted that the money would only buy a hamburger and a small dessert at his Mar-a-Lago resort, adding that the location is not ideal for those watching their spending.
Supporters are traveling long distances for these appearances. Blake Marnell, known as Mr. Wall, took a month off work from San Diego to attend rallies in North Carolina. Cindy New from Emerald Isle, North Carolina, said she is seeing Trump for the last time because she cannot imagine him campaigning again after 2028.
Valerie Thivierge, a store owner in Fort Myers, Florida, closed her business to attend a rally there. She described the events as a central part of her life and said she wanted to see the president in person.
Trump said he continues the grueling schedule because of the crowds. He described standing for two hours as difficult but said the rooms are full of love. He acknowledged the physical toll, noting his voice is operating at 49.2 percent capacity.
The Republican National Committee announced on Thursday that Trump would cancel in-person rallies in Iowa and Kansas, replacing them with tele-rallies. A source familiar with the scheduling said the change was made to reach voters more efficiently with days left before voting ends. Less than 24 hours later, the RNC reversed the decision, restoring the in-person events for Sunday.
The RNC stated that Trump loves his supporters and would hold back-to-back rallies in Kansas and Iowa. The president closed a recent event in Corpus Christi, Texas, by telling the crowd that they have been working together for 11 years. He urged them to win on November 3.
In Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday, Trump described the 28 consecutive days of campaigning as exhausting. He said he thought the final rally was it, allowing him to relax, but the schedule kept moving.
