Trump Reverses Course to Hold In-Person Rallies in Iowa and Kansas Amid Midterm Scramble

Key points

• Trump will hold rallies in Dubuque, Iowa, and Salina, Kansas, on Sunday, reversing a Thursday decision to switch to virtual events.
• The Justice Department is suing to delay certification of the Alaska Senate race, alleging a Democratic-linked candidate named Dan Sullivan is confusing voters.
• Michael Bloomberg donated $36 million to Democratic causes, while Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez transferred $450,000 to Senate candidates in Maine, Alaska, and Florida.
• A federal appeals court rejected a DOJ attempt to block counting of 20,000 ballots in California, citing state authority over elections.
• X suspended over a dozen accounts spreading suspected Russian disinformation about Democratic candidates ahead of the midterms.

Background

This development follows a rapid shift in Trump’s campaign strategy earlier this week, where he canceled in-person events in the Midwest to focus on virtual telerallies across 20 states. The initial cancellation was framed by the White House as a tactical efficiency measure, but it drew criticism from GOP officials in Kansas and Iowa who felt the move undermined morale in tight races. The current reinstatement of rallies coincides with a surge in early voting, with nearly 10 million more Americans casting ballots five days before Election Day compared to the same period in 2022.

How outlets are covering it

CNN and KCRG both confirm the reinstatement of the rallies but highlight different nuances. CNN emphasizes that Trump was 'irked' by media coverage of the cancellations and that local officials in Iowa and Kansas pressured him to return, framing it as a response to constituent demand. KCRG focuses on the logistical details, noting that the RNC updated media on Friday afternoon and that parking restrictions in Dubuque began Friday night. Both sources agree that the shift from virtual to in-person events was a last-minute reversal, but CNN places more weight on the political pressure from GOP leaders, while KCRG notes that some local officials were initially unaware of the rescheduling.

Why it matters

The reinstatement of in-person rallies signals a shift in Trump’s strategy to maximize voter turnout in critical Midwest states where Republicans are fighting to maintain their Senate majority. The legal battles in Alaska and California highlight the intensifying efforts by the Trump administration to challenge election outcomes in states where Democrats are leading. The influx of major donations from Bloomberg and Ocasio-Cortez underscores the high stakes of the midterms, with both parties pouring resources into battleground states to influence the outcome.

What to watch

Trump is expected to hold rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, followed by virtual telerallies on Monday. The Justice Department is set to file new paperwork in the Alaska case by the end of the day, and a federal judge will hold an emergency hearing on Saturday regarding the DOJ’s attempts to block noncitizen voter lists in Washington and California. The midterms are scheduled for November 3, with results expected to determine control of at least one chamber of Congress.