Trump Adds Iowa and Kansas Rallies to Weekend Schedule
The president reversed earlier plans for phone-only events after hearing that in-person appearances would be more effective for key Senate races.
By Nikhil Petrov ·
Nearly 10 million more Americans had cast ballots by five days before Election Day in 2026 than at the same point in 2022, according to an Associated Press analysis of voting data.
President Donald Trump responded to this surge by reshuffling his weekend schedule to hold campaign rallies in Iowa and Kansas.
Both states have competitive Senate races where early voting is up roughly 30% compared to four years ago. Trump originally planned to conduct a series of phone rallies to reach more voters nationwide, a strategy outlined by the Republican National Committee.
He changed his mind after receiving calls from allies in those states. Trump said they told him that if he could travel, his physical presence would be better than a remote event.
The schedule went through several changes this week. Trump was initially set to visit Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday. Those plans shifted to a 72-hour sprint of phone rallies before returning to in-person stops.
On Friday, the Iowa location moved from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids, then back to Dubuque hours later, according to a person familiar with the planning. The Republican National Committee confirmed the final itinerary: rallies in Dubuque and Salina on Sunday.
Trump defended the change in plans on Thursday after returning to Washington from South Carolina. He dismissed questions about fatigue or health, telling a reporter, “I feel perfect.” He added that he was not going to Kansas because Republican Senator Roger Marshall is doing very well.
The president has headlined 25 rallies in October so far. He promised a marathon sprint of events at the start of the month to shore up Republican candidates. Both parties hope the high turnout favors them as they fight for control of Congress.
In Kansas, Trump praised Marshall as fantastic and credited him for pushing policies that benefit farmers, such as expanding tax-free use of red-dyed diesel. He criticized Marshall’s Democratic challenger, Adam Hamilton, as a radical who has caused turmoil in the church.
In Iowa, Trump is supporting Ashley Hinson, the Republican Senate candidate who currently serves in the House. He visited both states earlier this month. The outcome of these races will help determine if Republicans keep their narrow majority in the Senate.
Source: The San Bernardino Sun
