The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced on Thursday, October 29, 2026, that President Donald Trump will conduct a series of virtual \"tele-rallies\" across 19 states in the final 72 hours before the midterm elections. The announcement followed the cancellation of planned in-person rallies in Salina, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa, which had been scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters stated the virtual format would allow the president to reach a wider pool of voters across more districts during the closing days of the campaign.
The shift to virtual events comes as polling indicates competitive races for Republican incumbents. In Kansas, a CNN/SSRS poll released Thursday showed Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton leading incumbent Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) by four points, 49 percent to 45 percent, which is within the poll’s margin of error. In Iowa, Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA) holds a two-point lead over Democrat Josh Turek according to Emerson College/Nexstar polling, a margin that has narrowed by three points since September.
President Trump defended the schedule change on Thursday evening, telling reporters he did not feel he needed to visit Kansas because Marshall is \"doing very well.\" When questioned by a Reuters reporter about whether the cancellations were related to his health or travel fatigue, the 80-year-old president replied, \"I feel perfect,\" and insulted the reporter's appearance. Trump has appeared at 25 rallies over the last 29 days, including a Thursday event in Rock Hill, South Carolina, for Senator Darline Graham (R-SC).
For the average household, this shift means the president will not be appearing in person in Kansas or Iowa this weekend, though he will still hold a scheduled in-person rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday, October 30. Voters in the affected 19 states may instead receive invitations to join shorter tele-rallies. The outcome of these efforts will be felt immediately following the November 3 election, as the results determine whether Republicans maintain their majorities—currently 53 seats in the Senate and 218 in the House—or if Democrats gain control of Congress.
Political forecasters, including Harvard University’s ElectIt model, currently give Democrats a 94 percent chance of taking the House, though the Senate remains more competitive. A change in congressional control would impact the president's legislative agenda for his final two years in office. Following the virtual blitz, President Trump is expected to remain at the White House on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, to monitor the results. Plans for a final in-person rally in Michigan on Monday have not been finalized.
According to a White House official, the tele-rallies will focus on highlighting the administration's accomplishments. Meanwhile, Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc. confirmed that New Hampshire and Maine are not currently on the tele-rally schedule, despite competitive Senate races in those states. The RNC has stated it may add more virtual events to the schedule before polls close.