By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Donald Trump has reversed a decision to cancel in-person campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa this weekend, reinstating the events just days before the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. The Republican National Committee announced Thursday that the president would skip the rallies in favor of tele-rallies, citing a "strong position" in both states. By Friday morning, a source familiar with the matter confirmed the rallies were "back on" and rescheduled to accommodate 19 tele-rallies Trump is also conducting.
Midterm Stakes and Polling Pressure
Control of Congress hangs in the balance, with Democrats aiming to capitalize on declining approval ratings for Trump and voter discontent over the cost of living, exacerbated by his administration's conflict with Iran. A Guardian/Harris poll of roughly 2,000 adults found the cost of living and government corruption as top voter concerns. Despite Trump's claim that Republican Senator Roger Marshall is "doing very well" in Kansas, polls show a slim margin between Senate candidates in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in 96 years. Democrats hold a small edge in Iowa's gubernatorial and Senate races.
Trump's Reaction and Tele-Rally Plan
On Thursday, Trump told reporters he believed Republicans would have "a strong Tuesday night" and did not feel the need to visit Kansas. He lashed out at a Reuters reporter who asked if the schedule change stemmed from travel fatigue, calling the question "disgusting." The Saturday tele-rallies will target 19 states, including competitive Senate battlegrounds such as Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and South Carolina, as well as states with key House and gubernatorial races.
