Trump cancels Iowa and Kansas rallies, shifts to phone events

President Donald Trump canceled scheduled weekend in-person rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Thursday. He will instead participate in a series of telerallies, which the Republican National Committee says will allow him to address voters in nearly 20 states over the next three days.

The RNC announced the change on Thursday evening, describing the plan as a 72-hour sprint designed to maximize the president's ability to speak to voters nationwide. The party noted that more states may be added to the telerally itinerary in the coming hours.

Trump’s team has grown more optimistic about Republican prospects in Kansas, where Democrat Adam Hamilton is challenging GOP Senator Roger Marshall. According to a person familiar with the internal strategy, the decision to switch formats reflects confidence in Marshall’s position. The telerallies will feature shorter speaking windows, with Trump expected to address each audience for approximately 10 minutes rather than the 90 minutes typical of in-person events.

When asked if the change was related to an illness, Trump denied being sick. He stated that he is not traveling to Kansas because Marshall is doing very well. The president also confirmed he still plans to travel to Florida on Friday.

On Thursday, Trump traveled to Rock Hill, South Carolina, for the second time in a month to support Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham. The visit underscores Republican concerns about Graham’s ability to defend a critical seat against Democratic challenger Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who has campaigned on a message of change. South Carolina has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in nearly 30 years.

Andrews urged voters in nearby Fort Mill on Wednesday to try something new. She told supporters that if they elect her and are unhappy with her performance, they can fire her in six years. Her campaign is seeking support from disaffected Republicans, such as Brent Chaplin, a 37-year-old finance professional who said it is hard to identify as a Republican in the current political climate.

Graham, who was appointed to the Senate in July following the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, praised the president for delivering on long-promised policy changes. She warned that Andrews would throw those gains away. Trump, in turn, promoted Graham as his elected successor and joked that he put her into the race.

Beyond South Carolina, the Republican Party is focused on tight contests in Texas, Ohio, Iowa, and Alaska. The Alaska Senate race has drawn particular attention after The New York Times reported that the Democratic campaign appeared involved in recruiting a candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. The state’s Republican governor ordered an investigation, and the U.S. Justice Department escalated its review on Thursday by issuing new grand jury subpoenas.

Trump labeled the Alaska development a conspiracy and called for Democrat Mary Peltola to be removed from the ballot. Peltola, a former congresswoman, suggested the report was a distraction from issues such as Senator Sullivan’s support for the war in Iran. In Iowa, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand told voters in a Des Moines suburb to avoid post-election regret by voting now. He acknowledged that a win would likely result in a divided government, meaning both political extremes would be disappointed.