Trump Cancels Weekend Rallies in Kansas and Iowa, Shifts to Telerallies Before Midterms

President Donald Trump has scrapped two in-person campaign rallies planned for the final weekend before Tuesday’s midterm elections, opting instead to phone in to a series of “telerallies” for Republican candidates across the country.

The canceled events were set for Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday, according to a Reuters report. The Washington Post first reported the Kansas change on Thursday, Oct. 29, citing four people with knowledge of the plans. The Republican National Committee later said the Iowa rally was also canceled, Reuters reported.

Why did Trump cancel the rallies?

Trump downplayed the change. He told reporters he did not “feel like I have to go to Kansas,” where Republican Sen. Roger Marshall faces an unexpectedly competitive race against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton. “He is doing very well,” Trump said of Marshall. “We are going to have a strong Tuesday night,” according to Reuters.

The Washington Post offered more context. It reported that Republicans are worried about losing the Kansas seat, with Marshall trailing in some polls. Campaigns had been pressing for Trump to rally in their states during the final stretch, three people told the Post, so his team chose to schedule a number of telerallies instead. One person said a Kansas trip would have taken up a large share of the final weekend, compared with holding virtual events for candidates in several states.

Iowa is home to several competitive congressional races, Reuters noted.

What is a telerally?

A telerally is a campaign event where the candidate calls in by phone rather than appearing in person. The Post reported that Trump will hold a telerally for Marshall in place of the Salina visit.

The scale of the plan varies slightly by account:

• A White House official told the Post that Trump “will continue connecting directly with Americans nationwide through more than 20 telerallies before Election Day.”
• MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump political group, said it would host telerallies with the president in at least 19 states, including Kansas and Iowa, before Election Day, according to Reuters.

Is Trump still holding in-person rallies?

Yes, at least some. Both outlets reported that Trump is still scheduled to travel to Florida on Friday, with the Post naming Daytona Beach as the stop. Reuters said he is still expected to attend rallies in several states before Tuesday.

On Thursday, Trump campaigned in Rock Hill, South Carolina, for Sen. Darline Graham.

A heavy campaign schedule

Since Oct. 1, Trump has held 25 rallies in 19 states, often in rural areas of Republican-leaning states, Reuters reported. He has acknowledged the strain of the schedule. Sounding hoarse at a Mississippi event on Monday, he said, “God didn’t make your vocal cords to do a rally every day.”

After Thursday’s South Carolina stop, a Reuters reporter asked how he felt after weeks of rallies and whether he was tired of traveling. “You’ve been following me for two weeks,” Trump said. “I feel perfect.”

What’s at stake in the midterms

Tuesday’s elections will decide whether Republicans keep their narrow majorities in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, according to Reuters. The Post reported that the GOP has been working to build enthusiasm among its base as Trump and Republican candidates face poor approval ratings among swing voters.

FAQ