Trump swaps Iowa and Kansas rallies for tele-rallies

President Donald Trump canceled his scheduled in-person rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Thursday. He will hold tele-rallies instead of traveling to the two states this weekend. The events were part of a campaign to visit 35 locations nationwide to support Republican midterm candidates.

Trump said he did not feel the need to travel to Kansas. He noted that Republican Senator Roger Marshall is performing well in his tight race against Democrat Adam Hamilton. The senator’s race has become a toss-up due to cost concerns linked to the war in Iran. Kansas has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate for nearly 100 years.

The president has held 25 rallies in the past month. He admitted on Monday that the schedule has been difficult on his voice. He told reporters on Thursday that he feels perfect. When a journalist asked if the Kansas cancellation was related to his health, Trump responded sharply. He told the reporter, You look like hell. He added that the reporter should put themselves in shape.

White House officials confirmed the Iowa rally was canceled hours after the press interaction. The Republican National Committee released a statement explaining the change. The committee said the tele-rallies were chosen to maximize opportunities for the president to speak to voters across the country. Two White House officials said Trump plans to hold more than 20 tele-rallies before Election Day.

Iowa has competitive races in all congressional districts except one. GOP operatives in the state said in-person rallies would have been helpful. One operative noted that a tele-rally would boost turnout, but an in-person event would have been really helpful. The canceled rally was scheduled for Saturday in Dubuque, which is in the contested 2nd Congressional District.

Another Iowa operative said the state is in pretty good shape. He expressed a desire to have the president there but acknowledged the current situation. Trump remains scheduled to campaign in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday. He will support Republican Representative Randy Fine and Senator Ashley Moody. Cook Political Report rates both races as solidly Republican. No events have been announced for Monday.

The shift from physical travel to remote broadcasts changes the logistics of the midterm push. The president previously suggested his presence in battleground states boosts Republican poll numbers. The tele-rallies allow him to reach multiple audiences without the physical toll of daily travel. The campaign will continue to rely on these virtual events to maintain momentum through the fall.