President Donald Trump has called off two planned campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa this weekend. Instead, he is opting to hold tele-rallies as he continues his push to help Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections, according to NBC News.
The rallies were supposed to be part of Trump’s planned midterm blitz, during which he said he would visit 35 locations across the country to encourage voters to support Republican candidates. He has held 25 rallies over the past month and has repeatedly claimed that his appearances can help boost GOP candidates’ chances.
Trump appeared less convinced that his presence was necessary in Kansas. When asked about the cancellation, he said he did not “feel I have to go to Kansas,” adding that he believed Republican Sen. Roger Marshall was “doing well.” Marshall is facing Democrat Adam Hamilton in a competitive race, with concerns about the costs of the war in Iran reportedly contributing to the contest becoming a toss-up.
He says he feels fine
The decision to switch to tele-rallies came after Trump acknowledged that his demanding campaign schedule had taken a toll on his voice. Speaking with a hoarse voice, he said the campaign blitz had not been “easy,” adding that “God didn’t make your vocal cords to do a rally every day.”
Still, Trump insisted that he felt “perfect” when a reporter asked whether his health had influenced the decision to cancel the Kansas rally. Rather than simply addressing the question, he turned his attention to the journalist and responded: “You’ve been following me for two weeks. I feel perfect. You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell.”
Trump cancelled his planned appearance in Iowa hours after the exchange. The event was scheduled for Saturday in Dubuque, in the state’s competitive 2nd Congressional District. A White House official and another person familiar with the decision confirmed that the appearance was off.
The Republican National Committee said the changes were intended to “maximise opportunities for President Donald J. Trump to speak to voters across the country.” Two White House officials also said Trump was aiming to hold more than 20 tele-rallies by Election Day.
The cancellations drew some disappointment from Republican operatives in Iowa, where all but one of the state’s congressional races are considered competitive. One operative told the outlet that a virtual event could help increase turnout but that an in-person appearance “would have been really helpful.”
Another said they would have liked to see the president visit, although they believed the state was in good shape. Trump is still scheduled to campaign in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday, where he will appear in support of Republican Rep. Randy Fine and Sen. Ashley Moody.
Published: Oct 30, 2026 11:15 am