Trump Reschedules Iowa and Kansas Rallies for Sunday
The president shifted both events to the same day after initially canceling weekend trips, citing a new schedule of phone-based rallies.
By Anthony Lawson ·
President Donald Trump will hold campaign rallies in both Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, a person familiar with the plans said. This comes after the administration initially canceled weekend trips to both states earlier this week.
The rescheduled events will take place back-to-back on Sunday. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the schedule, confirmed that Trump will visit both Midwestern states on the same day.
Trump initially planned to visit Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday. The administration later canceled those in-person events, stating that Trump would instead participate in phone-based rallies to reach more voters nationwide. The Republican National Committee described the new plan as a sprint of telerallies.
The change in plans has added a layer of complexity to the final days of the midterm campaign. Republicans are working to retain their majorities in Congress, a goal that has become central to the election as it has turned on issues of affordability and the president's approval ratings. Trump has already headlined 25 rallies in October, a pace he promised at the start of the month.
On Thursday, the president pushed back against questions about why the Kansas rally was initially canceled. He denied that fatigue or health concerns played a role. “I’m not going to Kansas because he’s doing very well,” Trump said, referring to Senator Roger Marshall. He added, “I feel perfect” and “I don’t feel I have to go to Kansas.”
The RNC said the telerallies were chosen because they are less expensive than staging in-person events. These phone events typically involve the president speaking for about 10 minutes from a script to call-in listeners. This contrasts with the 90-minute speeches he often delivers at physical rallies. Officials have not released a full schedule for these phone events.
The location of the Iowa rally has also moved. It will now be held in Cedar Rapids instead of Dubuque, according to another person familiar with the plans. Both Iowa and Kansas are home to competitive Senate races that will help determine if Republicans keep their majority in the chamber.
Trump has already visited both states this month. He campaigned for Marshall in Kansas and for Iowa Senate candidate Ashley Hinson, who currently serves in the House. Vice President JD Vance also traveled to Kansas earlier this week to support Marshall. Vance’s office had announced he would hold a news conference in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Friday, but he canceled that appearance due to a scheduling change.
In a Friday morning radio interview, Trump praised Marshall as “fantastic.” He credited the senator for pushing administration policies that benefit Kansas farmers, including expanding the tax-free use of red-dyed diesel. Trump also criticized Marshall’s Democratic opponent, Adam Hamilton, calling him a “radical.”
Hamilton, a Methodist pastor, responded to the criticism by suggesting that if Jesus were present today, Marshall would label him “woke.” The candidate said this dynamic has caused turmoil within the church because of Hamilton’s liberal views.
