Trump cancels Kansas and Iowa rallies and Vance scraps Minnesota event as midterm campaign enters final days
Trump dropped weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa for phone 'tele-rallies' covering 19 states, and Vance called off a Minnesota event, days before Tuesday's midterms.
At a glance
- Trump cancelled rallies in Kansas on Saturday and Iowa on Sunday and will hold tele-rallies instead.
- The Republican National Committee says a '72-hour sprint' will reach at least 19 states before Tuesday's vote.
- Vance called off a Friday news conference in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on the 'War on Fraud'; no reason has been given.
- An average of national polls shows 52% prefer Democratic control of Congress and 43% Republican control.
President Donald Trump has cancelled weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa and will instead address voters by phone, while Vice President JD Vance has called off a Friday event in Minnesota, in the last days before Tuesday's US midterm elections. The Republican National Committee said a "72-hour sprint" of tele-rallies would reach at least 19 states.
Trump was due in Kansas on Saturday and Iowa on Sunday as part of a pledge to visit 35 locations. He is still scheduled to hold a rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday. No events have been announced for Monday, the final day of the campaign.
What has changed on the campaign map
| Who | Planned event | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Trump | Rally in Kansas, Saturday | Cancelled |
| Trump | Rally in Iowa, Sunday | Cancelled |
| Trump | Rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, Friday | Still scheduled |
| Trump | Tele-rallies, at least 19 states | Added |
| Vance | 'War on Fraud' news conference, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Friday | Called off, no reason given |
RNC chairman Joe Gruters framed the switch as a way to reach more voters, saying people across the country wanted to hear from the president before Election Day. Vance, who leads the White House task force on fraud, had been due to make an announcement with other members of the panel.
Trump's voice, and his answer to questions about fatigue
Trump, 80, has campaigned at 25 rallies this month, and has acknowledged the strain. Sounding hoarse in Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday, he told the crowd that vocal cords were not made for a rally every day. Asked by a reporter on Thursday in Rock Hill, South Carolina, whether he was tired of travelling, he snapped back: "I feel perfect."
No official has linked the cancellations to his health, and the party's explanation is about reach.
Why Kansas and Iowa were on the schedule at all
These are states Republicans would normally expect to hold comfortably, and their presence on the president's closing itinerary showed how far the contest has spread. Forecasters and prediction markets see Democrats as favourites to take both the House and the Senate. An average of national polls puts Democratic control of Congress at 52% and Republican control at 43%.
The backdrop is voters' anger over prices. Trump's approval has fallen to historic lows amid frustration with high gasoline costs and the long war with Iran. Fuel prices are also on the agenda at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting Secretary of State Marco Rubio is hosting in Atlanta on Friday, where Washington wants to discuss energy and supply chains.
Why the result matters outside the US
Control of Congress would decide how much room Trump has on spending, sanctions and war powers for the last two years of his term. For Pakistan, the Gulf and other regions affected by the Iran war and the Hormuz disruption, a Democratic Congress could mean closer scrutiny of US military decisions, though foreign policy would remain mainly with the White House.
Polls close on Tuesday, November 3. Trump's tele-rally schedule begins over the weekend.
Questions people are asking
When are the 2026 US midterm elections?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with control of the House and the Senate at stake.
What is a tele-rally?
A campaign event held by phone, where a candidate or surrogate speaks to voters on a mass conference call instead of appearing in person.
