President Trump Rebukes Reuters Reporter Over Canceled Kansas Rally
Oh you’re sick to ask that question. You are sick,
President Donald Trump said Oct. 29, 2026, when a Reuters reporter asked whether he canceled a weekend campaign trip because he was tired of traveling.
The exchange occurred on Oct. 29 as the White House announced the abrupt cancellation of Trump’s rally originally scheduled for Kansas ahead of the midterm elections. Trump told the reporter that he was bypassing the state because incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall was “doing very well.” Instead of the in-person event, the White House scheduled a tele-rally for Marshall and other Republican midterm candidates.
Trump’s decision to scrap the Salina, Kansas, event set for Oct. 30 and a subsequent Iowa rally planned for Nov. 1 comes as Republicans face a tightening congressional map. According to a recent CNN poll, Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton holds a four-point lead over Marshall in Kansas, sitting at 49% to 45% in a state that has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1932.
Campaign Schedule Adjustments and Republican Strategy
The Republican National Committee confirmed that the president no longer would hold a rally in Iowa that had been planned for Nov. 1. RNC Chair Joe Gruters stated that the president would connect with voters through more than 20 tele-rallies before Election Day to provide a closing boost for candidates.
Despite scaling back select physical appearances, Trump headed to Daytona Beach, Florida, for a rally on Friday, after returning from an event in South Carolina for GOP Sen. Darline Graham. Trump has delivered more than two dozen rallies in the homestretch of the midterm campaign, with individual speeches frequently lasting nearly two hours.
Polling data indicates potential vulnerabilities for the GOP in several regions visited by the president. In Kansas, the CNN survey showed that 57% of voters disapprove of Trump’s job performance, despite the president winning the state by 16 percentage points during the 2024 election.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Midterm Campaign Adjustments
Why did the White House cancel the Kansas and Iowa rallies?
The White House stated that President Trump no longer needed to travel to Kansas because incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall was doing well in his campaign. According to an announcement by the Republican National Committee, an upcoming Nov. 1 rally in Iowa was called off, while the White House noted that Trump would maintain direct contact with voters through upwards of 20 tele-rallies leading up to Election Day.
How are candidates performing in the Kansas Senate race?
A CNN poll released ahead of the midterm election showed Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton leading Republican Sen. Roger Marshall 49% to 45%. The same poll recorded a 57% disapproval rating for President Trump’s job performance in the state.
What is President Trump’s campaign schedule following the cancellations?
President Trump traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida, for a rally on Friday following a campaign stop in South Carolina for GOP Sen. Darline Graham. The RNC announced that Trump would participate in more than 20 tele-rallies leading up to Election Day.
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