President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance canceled several appearances across three states scheduled in the final days of the midterm election campaign, when Republicans could lose control of Congress.
President Trump has canceled two weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa and will instead hold a series of telephone rallies and address voters by phone. The Republican National Committee announced that the president will reach at least 19 states in a “72-hour sprint” before Tuesday’s election.
The canceled stops were part of the midterm election campaign, where President Trump said he would visit 35 locations to boost Republican voter turnout. He was scheduled to appear in Kansas on Saturday and Iowa on Sunday.
“Voters across the country want to hear from President Trump before Election Day, and this 72-hour sprint will be a huge boost late in the election,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said in a statement.
Trump has campaigned at 25 rallies this month and acknowledged tensions are high after a packed schedule of back-to-back rallies. “God didn’t make your vocal cords to have a meeting every day,” he said, his voice hoarse in Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday.
On Thursday, after campaigning for Sen. Darling Graham in Rock Hill, South Carolina, President Trump sharply rebutted a Reuters reporter who asked him how he felt after weeks of rallies and if he was tired of traveling. “You’ve been following me for two weeks,” the 80-year-old president said. “I feel perfect.”
Hours later that same day, Vance also canceled a Friday news conference in St. Cloud, Minn., about the administration’s “war on fraud,” but the reason for the cancellation remains unclear.
Vance, who heads the White House Task Force to Combat Fraud, was scheduled to present the administration’s efforts to “fight fraud” along with other members, the White House said.
The withdrawal comes as President Trump’s approval ratings have fallen to historic lows amid growing dissatisfaction with soaring gas prices and the protracted war with Iran.
Forecasters and prediction markets are favoring Democrats to take control of Congress and turn both the House and Senate blue. According to an average of national polls by NBC News, 52% of Americans surveyed prefer Democratic control of Congress, compared to 43% who favor Republican control of Congress.
President Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday, but no events have been announced for Monday, the final day of the campaign.
