Donald Trump reinstates campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa before midterms

Donald Trump will proceed with in-person campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa this weekend, reversing an earlier announcement that the events were called off ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

The Republican National Committee had stated on Thursday that Trump would drop the two state visits to focus on a slate of virtual tele-rallies, asserting that the party held a solid standing in both states. However, an informed source confirmed on Friday that the in-person rallies were reinstated and rescheduled alongside 19 planned phone-based appearances.

The sudden shift comes as Republicans face intense competition to maintain their majorities in Congress. While Kansas and Iowa have historically leaned Republican, recent polling indicates tight contests. In Kansas, where a Democrat has not won a U.S. Senate seat in nearly a century, surveys show a narrow race between the candidates. Meanwhile, polling in Iowa indicates narrow Democratic leads in the contests for governor and the U.S. Senate.

The upcoming vote serves as a significant test of Trump's standing, with Democrats aiming to take back both the House of Representatives and the Senate amid declining approval ratings for the administration. Democratic candidates have gained traction over voter frustration regarding living costs, which has become a primary campaign issue alongside public concerns over governmental corruption.

Before the weekend schedule was reinstated, Trump addressed the initial cancellations on Thursday, insisting that Republican candidates were performing well and that travel to Kansas was unnecessary. When questioned by a Reuters reporter about whether travel fatigue influenced the original decision, Trump reacted sharply, insulting the journalist's physical condition.

In addition to the restored physical rallies, Trump is scheduled to hold tele-rallies targeting voters across 19 states on Saturday. The remote events will focus on competitive Senate campaigns in states such as Alaska, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and South Carolina, alongside races in Kansas and Iowa. The outreach will also span key House and gubernatorial contests in several states, including Arizona, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Florida, and Nevada.