Trump Reschedules Iowa and Kansas Rallies

The final weeks of the 2026 midterm campaign have been defined by rapid shifts in presidential strategy. President Donald Trump has rescheduled two weekend campaign rallies in Iowa and Kansas that he had previously canceled, according to a person familiar with the plans.

The Republican president will now visit both states on Sunday for back-to-back in-person events, the person said. This follows a period where the White House indicated that Trump would forgo these physical appearances in favor of telerallies. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the schedule, confirmed the change in venue and timing.

Trump had initially planned to hold a rally in Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and another in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday. The Republican National Committee announced that the president would instead participate in a 72-hour sprint of phone rallies. These remote events are significantly cheaper to stage than in-person gatherings. In telerallies, the president typically speaks for about 10 minutes to call-in audiences, a sharp contrast to the 90-minute remarks he often delivers at live events.

The new itinerary places the Iowa rally in Cedar Rapids rather than Dubuque. Both states are home to competitive Senate races that will influence whether Republicans maintain their majority in the chamber. Trump has already traveled to Kansas this month to support Senator Roger Marshall and to Iowa to boost Representative Ashley Hinson, who is running for the Senate seat.

On Thursday, Trump pushed back against reports that the initial cancellations were due to fatigue or health issues. He spoke to reporters while returning to Washington from a campaign event in South Carolina. When asked about dropping the Kansas stop, the president said, “I’m not going to Kansas because he’s doing very well.” He referred to Marshall and added, “I feel perfect.” He concluded, “I don’t feel I have to go to Kansas.”

Vice President JD Vance also adjusted his schedule. His office had announced a Friday news conference in St. Cloud, Minnesota, regarding anti-fraud efforts. That appearance was canceled due to a scheduling change, according to a person with knowledge of the plans. Vance had previously traveled to Kansas earlier in the week to campaign for Marshall and visited Iowa in September to support House candidates.

In a Friday interview with a Kansas City radio station, Trump called Marshall “fantastic.” He credited the senator for pushing the administration on policies for Kansas farmers, including the expansion of tax-free red-dyed diesel. Trump criticized Marshall’s Democratic opponent, Adam Hamilton, describing him as a “radical” who has “caused turmoil with the church because he’s so liberal.” Hamilton responded that if Jesus were present now, Marshall would call him “woke.”