Politics

Trump Reinstates Kansas and Iowa Rallies Amid Midterm Campaign Push

By AFP

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, October 30, 2026, reaffirmed that Republicans have a chance in the upcoming midterm elections that will decide control of Congress. After canceling two rallies a day earlier, Trump announced the events would take place in Kansas and Iowa, citing requests from local Republican officials. He described the rallies as a means to prevent “America‑hating communists” from taking over Congress and praised the enthusiasm he sees across the country.

Speaking late Friday to a crowd in Daytona, Florida, Trump reiterated his pledge to give every adult American citizen $5,000 if Republicans retain both chambers of Congress, a promise that experts have questioned the legality of. He also acknowledged that a president’s party often suffers in midterms, saying, “I think we have a shot at doing well. Maybe very well, but you know, pretty well.”

The president, 80, had earlier said he cancelled the events to hold virtual rallies, but local Republicans in Iowa and Kansas called and said a live appearance would be better than a tele‑rally. Trump’s comments were not a comprehensive assessment of Republican prospects. Republicans currently hold a 53‑47 majority in the Senate, while Democrats aim to capture at least one chamber and curb Trump’s legislative agenda.

Trump’s campaign has centered on energizing his MAGA base, but his low approval ratings and public anger over the Iran war and the cost of living may hurt Republican chances. Trump, who complained of losing his voice earlier in the week, had dismissed the Kansas trip as unnecessary, stating, “I feel perfect,” and noting that Senator Roger Marshall was “doing very well.” Political strategist Mike Fahey said the reversal was likely a response to concerns about the president’s energy levels.

Both Kansas and Iowa voted comfortably for Trump in 2024, but have become unexpected battlegrounds for Republicans. As of Friday, 47.9 million Americans had already voted in the midterms, with participation surging in key battleground states and registered Democrats outpacing Republicans. The turnout is especially high in states with fiercely contested Senate races.

In a notable development, Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic Church’s first U.S.-born pontiff, submitted a mail‑in ballot in Chicago, marking the first time a pope has voted in a U.S. political election.

Trump has urged Republicans to “pretend I’m on the ballot,” referencing his 2016 and 2024 election wins that defied polls. He has intensified rhetoric against migrants, Muslims and transgender people and warned of a third impeachment if Republicans lose, although Democrats may focus more on the 2028 presidential election.

Democrats fear Trump will not accept a Republican loss in the midterms, as he did not in 2020 after he ramped up claims of voter fraud. “We had a rigged election in 2020. We cannot ever let that happen again,” he said in an interview with the KCMO radio station in Kansas City.

Around the time Trump spoke in Florida, a federal court in California temporarily blocked U.S. justice officials from intimidating local election officials as the Department of Justice issued directives on ballot processing.