US midterms: Trump skips rallies in two red states, takes phone route to rescue GOP

President Donald Trump cancelled his final planned in-person campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa on Thursday, shifting strategy to a series of telephone-based events to support Republican candidates ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections. The decision follows four weeks of intensive campaigning, during which the 80-year-old president hosted 25 rallies across 19 states. Instead of traveling to Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday, Trump will participate in what the Republican National Committee described as a “72-hour sprint” of virtual gatherings. These tele-rallies aim to reach voters in nearly 20 states, with officials indicating that additional locations may be added to the schedule before Election Day. The change in itinerary came as Republicans face critical battles to retain their narrow majorities in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. While polls suggest Democrats are favored to gain control of the House, the outcome in the Senate remains uncertain, with several races tightening in the final days of the campaign. The Republican National Committee stated that the shift to virtual events allows the president to engage with more voters within the limited time remaining before the polls open. A campaign funding group aligned with Trump, known as MAGA Inc., confirmed it would host these tele-rallies in at least 19 states, including the two where physical rallies were scrapped. Trump made the announcement after arriving at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Thursday, having spent the day in South Carolina supporting Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham. This marked his second trip to the state in a month to aid Graham, who is facing a strong challenge from Democrat Annie Andrews. Graham was appointed to the seat in July by Governor Henry McMaster to replace her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, and subsequently secured the party nomination for a full six-year term. Trump praised Graham’s candidacy, stating she possesses the necessary political lineage, while criticizing Andrews. Andrews countered by urging voters to give her a chance, promising accountability if she fails to deliver results. During his return to Washington, Trump addressed questions regarding his health and stamina, dismissing suggestions that fatigue or illness prompted the cancellation of the weekend events. When a reporter asked if he was tired of traveling, Trump reacted sharply, calling the question disgusting and telling the journalist to put themselves in shape. He insisted he feels perfect and expressed surprise that a reporter had followed him for two weeks. Earlier in the week, while sounding hoarse during a stop in Mississippi, Trump remarked that human vocal cords are not designed for daily rallies. Despite this, he maintained a rigorous schedule through October, frequently speaking in rural areas of Republican-leaning states. The president indicated he does not see a necessity to visit Kansas, where Democrat Adam Hamilton is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall. Trump characterized the race as unexpectedly competitive but asserted that Marshall is performing well and predicted a strong result for the party on election night. Similarly, the Iowa rally was cancelled due to the presence of several competitive congressional districts in that state. Although the specific dates for the tele-rallies were not fully detailed in initial statements, the RNC emphasized the efficiency of reaching a broader audience virtually compared to the logistical constraints of physical travel. Beyond the presidential campaign activities, the midterm landscape features intense competition in multiple states. Republicans are battling for retention in Texas, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, and Alaska, while both parties monitor the Mississippi Senate race closely. In Ohio, former Senator Sherrod Brown is challenging incumbent Jon Husted, focusing his message on rising living costs and accusing Husted of favoring large corporations over families. In Alaska, political tensions escalated after a media report alleged that the campaign of Democrat Mary Peltola recruited a candidate sharing the name of Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into the matter, and the Department of Justice issued new grand jury subpoenas. Trump labeled the situation a conspiracy and demanded Peltola’s removal from the ballot, while Peltola dismissed the controversy as a distraction from policy issues, specifically citing Sullivan’s stance on the war in Iran. Trump is scheduled to hold one final in-person rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday. It remains unclear if he will conduct further physical appearances before the election, though the current plan centers on the virtual outreach initiative. The president has urged his party to treat his name as if it were on the ballot to maximize voter turnout, despite his low approval ratings. As the election approaches, both parties are intensifying their efforts, with Democrats hoping to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction regarding economic conditions and foreign policy conflicts. The coming days will determine whether Republicans can defend their congressional seats against a wave of challengers in key battleground states.