Trump Rescinds Cancellations to Hold Sunday Rallies in Iowa and Kansas

President Donald Trump is holding two campaign rallies in the Midwest this Sunday after deciding to reverse a cancellation that had left his weekend schedule empty. The President will appear in Iowa and Kansas on back-to-back days, according to a person familiar with the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The change comes as early voting numbers accelerate across the country. An Associated Press analysis found that nearly 10 million more Americans cast ballots five days before this Election Day compared to the same point in 2022. The increase is sharpest in states with competitive Senate races, including Kansas and Iowa, where early turnout is up roughly 30%.

Trump had originally planned to visit Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday. Those in-person events were canceled earlier in the week. The Republican National Committee stated at the time that the President would conduct telerallies from Washington to reach a wider audience. The new schedule rearranges the physical stops to fit around the phone events rather than replacing them entirely.

The Iowa stop has moved from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids. A second person familiar with the schedule confirmed the new location, noting the information had not yet been made public. The President has already visited both states this month to support his Republican candidates. In Kansas, he is backing Sen. Roger Marshall for reelection. In Iowa, he is supporting Senate candidate Ashley Hinson, a current member of the House.

Trump addressed the initial cancellation on Thursday while returning to Washington from South Carolina. He dismissed questions about fatigue or health as reasons for the change. “I’m not going to Kansas because he’s doing very well,” Trump said, referring to Marshall. He added that he felt perfect and did not feel he had to travel to Kansas.

The campaign is fighting for control of Congress in an election centered on affordability and the President's approval ratings. Trump has headlined 25 rallies in October as part of a sprint to boost Republican turnout. He criticized Marshall's Democratic opponent, Adam Hamilton, on a Kansas City radio station on Friday. Trump called Hamilton a radical who has caused turmoil in the church due to his liberalism. Hamilton responded that if Jesus were present today, Marshall would label him woke.

Voters in several states have cast ballots at historic rates. In Texas, more than 6.3 million residents had voted early as of Wednesday, a 50% increase over four years ago. Early voting is also up more than 30% in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kansas. In South Carolina, where voters are selecting a successor to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, early turnout is up 83%.

The next major event on the schedule is the rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, followed by the stop in Kansas. Both events are designed to mobilize the Republican base in the final week before the vote is counted.