Trump Moves Two Midwestern Rallies to Same Sunday

President Donald Trump will hold campaign rallies in both Iowa and Kansas on Sunday. The president had previously canceled these weekend trips, but the schedule has been rearranged to place both events on the same day.

A person familiar with the plans said the change accommodates new telerallies added to the president's calendar. The Republican National Committee initially announced that Trump would skip the in-person stops to conduct a "72-hour sprint" of phone rallies. Those phone events are cheaper to stage and allow the president to reach voters nationwide in roughly 10-minute scripted segments, compared to the 90-minute remarks he often delivers in person.

The shift comes as Trump and Republicans work to maintain their congressional majorities in the midterms. The president has headlined 25 rallies so far in October. He has already visited both Midwestern states this month. In Kansas, he campaigned for Republican Senator Roger Marshall. In Iowa, he supported Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson, who currently serves in the House.

The location of the Iowa rally has also changed. It will now take place in Cedar Rapids instead of Dubuque. Kansas remains a battleground for the Senate seat held by Marshall. Iowa is another key state in the race to keep the Republican majority in the chamber.

Trump pushed back against reports that the initial cancellations were tied to fatigue or health issues. On Thursday, he told a reporter, "I'm not going to Kansas because he's doing very well," referring to Marshall. The president added, "I feel perfect" and "I don't feel I have to go to Kansas."

Vice President JD Vance has also been active in the region. He traveled to Kansas earlier this week to stump for Marshall. He flew to Iowa in September to campaign alongside House candidates. His office had announced he would hold a news conference on anti-fraud efforts in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Friday. A person with knowledge of his plans said that event was canceled due to a scheduling change.

In a Friday morning radio interview, Trump called Marshall "fantastic." He credited the senator for pushing policies that benefit Kansas farmers, such as expanding the tax-free use of red-dyed diesel. Trump described Marshall's Democratic challenger, Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton, as a "radical" who has "caused turmoil with the church because he's so liberal."