On Thursday, Donald Trump defended his decision to replace campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa with virtual appearances, insisting he was feeling perfectly healthy.
Trump Replaces Kansas, Iowa Campaign Rallies With Virtual Events
The White House told The Hill that Trump would no longer attend an in-person campaign event in Kansas on Saturday.
The Republican National Committee later announced a similar cancellation in Iowa. Trump would instead make more than 20 virtual campaign appearances before Election Day on Nov. 3, letting him connect with voters across multiple states.
RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said the final campaign push would significantly boost Republican candidates.
A GOP source told the publication that strong demand from Republican candidates for Trump’s campaign appearances prompted the party to switch to virtual rallies. This will let the president reach more voters nationwide.
Marshall Trails Democrat In Competitive Kansas Senate Race
The Kansas event was meant to support Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who faces Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton.
A CNN/SSRS poll released Thursday showed Marshall trailing Hamilton by 4 percentage points, while a New York Times/Siena survey last month found both candidates tied at 45%.
Ted Lieu Accuses Trump of Avoiding Protesters
Following the cancellations, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) suggested that Trump was uncomfortable facing protesters at his rallies.
“My belief is that this sudden change has nothing to do with maximizing trump’s time,” Lieu wrote on X, adding that the president wanted to retreat to his “safe space.”
“The multiple protestors at his hate rallies have really bothered trump because he can’t handle the truth,” the representative said.
Trump’s approval rating stood at about 32%, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday, as Republicans worry about voter enthusiasm ahead of the midterms.
Trump Insults Reporter Over Kansas Rally Cancellation
When a Reuters reporter questioned Trump about abandoning the Kansas visit, the president said Marshall was “doing very well” and that he would hold a virtual event instead.
Asked whether he was tired of traveling, Trump snapped back, calling the question “sick.”
“You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell,” Trump told the reporter. Trump also insisted, “I feel perfect.”
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock/ noamgalai
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