Trump cuts two stops in 72-hour phone push for midterms
The president and vice president canceled in-person events in Kansas, Iowa, and Minnesota as election day nears.
By Austin Reed ·
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance canceled three planned appearances in the final days of the midterm campaign. The changes come as Republicans face the possibility of losing control of Congress.
Trump scrapped two weekend rallies. He was scheduled to visit Kansas on Saturday and Iowa on Sunday. Instead, the Republican National Committee announced a phone-only strategy. The president will address voters in at least 19 states over a 72-hour period. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters called the plan a huge boost in the closing days.
The cancellations interrupt a larger travel plan. Trump originally intended to visit 35 locations to boost Republican turnout. He has already held 25 rallies this month. The intense schedule has taken a physical toll on the 80-year-old president. In Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday, he admitted his voice was hoarse. He told supporters that God did not make vocal cords to handle a rally every day.
Trump pushed back against questions about his stamina on Thursday. After campaigning for Senator Darline Graham in Rock Hill, South Carolina, he responded to a reporter asking if he was tired of traveling. Trump stated that the reporter had been following him for two weeks. He added that he felt perfect.
Vance also adjusted his schedule. He canceled a Friday news conference in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The event was set to announce details of the administration's War on Fraud. Vance leads the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. The White House did not explain why the meeting was called off.
The scheduling shifts occur against a difficult backdrop for the Republican Party. Trump's approval rating has dropped to historic lows. Voters express frustration over high gasoline prices and the ongoing war with Iran. National polls show a preference for Democratic control of Congress. The NBC News average indicates that 52% of Americans prefer Democrats to run the legislative branch. That figure compares to 43% who favor Republican control.
Trump remains in the field for one in-person event. He will hold a rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday. No further events have been announced for Monday, the final day of the campaign.
