Trump cancels Kansas and Iowa rallies days before midterms

Summarised from 6 outlets · 7 reports · Updated 30 Oct, 01:09 · Archive

President Trump has cancelled planned in-person campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa scheduled for this weekend, just days before the midterm elections on November 3.

President Donald Trump has cancelled in-person campaign rallies scheduled for Saturday in Salina, Kansas and Sunday in Dubuque, Iowa, just days before the midterm elections on November 3. The cancellations come after more than four weeks of intensive campaigning in which he has hosted 25 rallies across 19 states, often speaking for over an hour.

The Kansas rally was intended to boost Republican Senator Roger Marshall's re-election bid. Marshall is in an unexpectedly tight race against Democrat Adam Hamilton, with some polls showing Marshall trailing by as much as four percentage points. Kansas has not elected a Democratic US senator since 1939.

Instead of attending in person, Trump will participate in 'tele-rallies'—virtual conference calls and broadcasts through which he can address supporters from Mar-a-Lago and other locations. The Republican National Committee confirmed that at least 19 to 20 tele-rallies will be held in the closing 72 hours before Election Day, targeting voters in states including Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Alaska and Iowa.

RNC Chairman Joe Gruters defended the change of strategy, arguing that virtual events allow Trump to 'maximize his time and reach' more voters across more states than he could through in-person appearances alone. A White House spokesperson stated that the tele-rallies will highlight Trump's accomplishments and expand his reach across the country.

When a Reuters reporter asked Trump about the cancellation, questioning whether he was feeling well, Trump responded angrily. He told the reporter 'I don't feel like I have to go to Kansas' and said 'I feel perfect', before attacking the journalist's appearance and calling him 'disgusting' and 'way out of shape'. GB News reports that Trump admitted his recent series of hour-long campaign speeches has been challenging.

Senator Marshall suggested the cancellation reflected his strong polling position, noting that Trump 'probably got better places to spend his time'. Trump said Marshall 'is doing very well' and predicted 'a strong Tuesday night' for Republicans.

Trump's rally scheduled for Friday in Daytona Beach, Florida, remains on the calendar. The midterm elections will determine whether Republicans retain their narrow majorities in both the House and Senate.

How it is being reported

• Donald Trump cancels weekend rallies after exploding at reporter who questioned his healthAsked by a reporter if the reason he will not attend the Kansas rally is health related, Donald Trump called the man "disgusting". He will instead will host a tele rally for Kansas ahead of the midterms next week.The Mirror · 30 Oct, 00:57
• Trump cancels Iowa rally, will hold telerallies insteadPresident Trump canceled his rally in Iowa, opting for a telerally instead. He also spoke at a rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Thursday afternoon, where he campaigned for Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham. CBS News' Fin Gómez reports and Nicholas Reynolds, a politics editor for The Post and Courier, has more on South Carolina's Senate race.CBS News · 30 Oct, 00:51
• Donald Trump cancels weekend rallies ahead of next week's midterms - 'I feel perfect!'President Donald Trump has cancelled weekend campaign stops ahead of next week's midterm elections. The 80-year-old Republican confirmed he would no longer make campaign stops in Kansas and Iowa, with his allies saying he would instead phone in to rallies nationwide after four weeks of travel. He told reporters he did not "feel like I have to go to Kansas," a Midwestern state where Senator Roger Marshall, a fellow Republican, is in an unexpectedly competitive race with Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton. President Trump said: "[Senator Marshall] is doing very well...We are going to have a…GB News · 30 Oct, 00:50
• Trump cancels Iowa, Kansas midterm events, opts for ‘tele-rallies’The Republican National Committee has announced broadcasts in at least 20 states after Trump nixes final rallies.Al Jazeera · 30 Oct, 00:44
• Trump pulls the plug on two crucial midterm rallies as Iowa and Kansas appearances are suddenly canceled... just days before Republicans face their Election Day reckoningDonald Trump canceled two of his upcoming campaign rallies which were scheduled for this weekend, days before the midterm election on November 3.Daily Mail · 29 Oct, 23:03
• Donald Trump angrily denies he's 'sick of travelling' as he cancels midterms rallyTrump was scheduled to visit Salina, Kansas for a rally on Saturday, one of the final events in a month of almost daily rallies - but he'll now phone it in with a tele-rallyThe Mirror · 29 Oct, 22:25
• Trump cancels his appearance at weekend rally in Kansas days before midterm voteRepublican Senator Roger Marshall is in a tight race for re-election against Democratic candidate Adam HamiltonIndependent World · 29 Oct, 17:22

In this story: Donald Trump · Roger Marshall · Adam Hamilton · Kansas · Iowa · Republican National Committee

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