Trump targets swing states with Alaska rally, pardons, and Taiwan gas deal

Key points

• Trump campaigned in Wasilla, Alaska, and later in Bullhead City, Arizona, and Kalispell, Montana, targeting states where Republicans face tight races.
• In Alaska, Trump pardoned two diesel repair shop owners convicted of violating the Clean Air Act and announced a 20-year natural gas purchase agreement with Taiwan.
• Polling shows Democrat Mary Peltola is tied or slightly ahead of incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in Alaska, a state Trump won by 14 points in 2024.
• In Montana, the Senate race involves Republican Kurt Alme, Democrat Alani Bankhead, and independent Seth Bodnar, with internal party divisions over the Democratic nominee.
• Trump’s approval ratings have declined due to rising fuel prices and the unpopular war in Iran, prompting a shift to campaigning in conservative-leaning areas of competitive states.

Background

This campaign push follows a September commitment by Trump to support 35 GOP races before the November 3 midterms. Recent archive coverage noted logistical challenges and polling concerns in Alaska, where Vice President JD Vance also campaigned recently. The current visits are part of a broader effort to address voter dissatisfaction with energy costs and foreign policy.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian emphasizes the strategic shift to conservative areas of competitive states due to falling approval ratings and highlights Trump’s contradictory stance on mail voting. KCCI focuses on the economic announcements, specifically the Taiwan natural gas deal and rural broadband expansion, framing them as major achievements. The Las Vegas Review-Journal confirms the rally schedule in Arizona but provides limited additional detail. Outlets differ in emphasis: The Guardian critiques the Iran war narrative and media access issues, while KCCI highlights the economic promises as central to the campaign message.

Why it matters

These rallies are critical for determining control of the US Senate, particularly in Alaska and Montana. The outcomes will influence the balance of power in Congress and reflect voter sentiment on energy costs, foreign policy, and regulatory enforcement. Trump’s focus on these states signals the high stakes of the 2026 midterms for the Republican Party.

What to watch

Trump is scheduled to continue campaigning in northern Kentucky on Saturday. The legal battle over media access to the White House will proceed, with a federal judge recently extending access for CNN, MS Now, and Politico. The midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, 2026.