Trump to join tele-rallies 19 states after midterm event cancellations

President Donald Trump canceled his final two in-person campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa on Thursday, opting instead to conduct a series of remote appearances known as tele-rallies across nineteen states. The decision, announced by the Republican National Committee late Thursday, marks a shift in strategy for the 80-year-old president just days before the November 3 midterm elections. The RNC stated that Republicans are in a strong position in both states, making physical presence unnecessary. Trump, who has maintained a grueling schedule of near-daily rallies since early October, will continue to campaign remotely through Election Day. His last scheduled in-person event is a rally in Florida on Friday. The cancellations affect events originally planned for Salina, Kansas, on Saturday, and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters defended the move in a press release, arguing that the virtual format allows for a more efficient "72-hour sprint" to reach voters nationwide. "Voters across the country want to hear from President Trump before Election Day," Gruters said, describing the initiative as a significant boost for the closing days of the campaign. The tele-rallies will cover Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. The committee indicated that additional events featuring the president may be announced in the coming days. Trump addressed the change in plans directly upon returning to Washington from a campaign trip to South Carolina. When a reporter asked if he had canceled the Kansas rally due to health issues or fatigue, Trump reacted sharply. "You're sick to ask that question. You are sick," he told the journalist. He added, "I feel perfect. You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape, you look like hell." Earlier in the day, after campaigning for Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina, Trump dismissed the idea of needing to visit Kansas personally. "He is doing very well," Trump said regarding incumbent Senator Roger Marshall. "We are going to have a strong Tuesday night." The strategic pivot occurs amidst intense competition for control of Congress. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers of the legislature. They possess 53 seats in the Senate and 218 seats in the House, where all 435 positions are up for election. Only about one-third of Senate seats are contested this cycle. Political forecasters suggest Democrats have an advantage in this midterm cycle, driven by voter dissatisfaction with rising living costs and the ongoing war in Iran. Despite these headwinds, Trump has urged his party to treat the presidential race as if he were on the ballot to maximize turnout, even as his approval ratings have slipped. Polling data highlights the competitiveness of the races in the canceled rally locations. A CNN/SSRS survey released Thursday showed Kansas Democrat Adam Hamilton leading incumbent Senator Roger Marshall by four points in the state’s Senate race, though the margin fell within the poll’s error range. In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek is challenging Republican Representative Ashley Hinson for a Senate seat. Emerson College/Nexstar polling placed Hinson two points ahead of Turek, also within the margin of error. However, the poll noted that Hinson’s support had dropped by three points since September, while Turek’s remained steady. Hinson has frequently clashed with the Trump administration over tariff policies and the conflict in Iran. Trump’s campaign trail has been physically demanding. Since October 1, he has hosted 25 rallies in 19 states, frequently addressing crowds in rural areas of traditionally Republican-leaning regions. On Monday, while in Mississippi, Trump sounded hoarse and remarked, "God didn’t make your vocal cords to do a rally every day." The intensity of his schedule has raised questions among observers about his stamina, although the RNC attributed the switch to remote events solely to electoral strength in specific states. The shift to tele-rallies removes the element of direct audience interaction that has characterized Trump’s recent campaigning. While the format allows the president to address multiple constituencies in a single evening, it lacks the immediate feedback loop of live rallies. One Republican strategist described the October blitz as an effort to ensure every possible vote for the party comes out, despite declining support in traditional red strongholds. The campaign environment remains tense, with Democrats hoping to exploit economic grievances and foreign policy frustrations to flip control of Congress. Other developments in the final days of the campaign include a notable reconciliation in Michigan. Representative Haley Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary to Dr. Abdul El-Sayed in August, agreed to campaign alongside him on Sunday. The joint appearance, set to take place at a Black church in Detroit, follows a period of friction between the two candidates. Stevens had previously criticized El-Sayed in interviews, though she pledged to support him in the general election. Her fiancé, however, endorsed El-Sayed’s Republican opponent, former Representative Mike Rogers. In Texas, Democratic candidate James Talarico continued to attack Republican nominee Ken Paxton. At an event, Talarico invoked the legacy of Sam Houston, a Texas founder who refused to swear loyalty to the Confederacy. "What would Sam Houston say to those Republican voters who, tonight, are thinking of breaking with their party in this election?" Talarico asked. "I think he would say, ‘Do right and risk the consequences.’" These efforts reflect the broader Democratic strategy to energize base voters and persuade independents in swing districts. The outcome of the November 3 elections will determine the legislative landscape for the final two years of Trump’s second term. Whichever party secures control of Congress will shape the administration’s ability to pass legislation and oversee executive actions. With less than five days remaining until Election Day, the focus shifts from mass rallies to targeted outreach and get-out-the-vote operations. The transition from in-person to virtual campaigning represents a tactical adjustment aimed at maximizing reach in the critical final hours of the election cycle.