Donald Trump has cancelled two campaign rallies scheduled for this weekend, abandoning planned appearances in Kansas and Iowa just days before the November 3 midterm elections.
The President was due to appear in Salina, Kansas, on Saturday to support Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who is facing a surprisingly close re-election contest. A planned rally in Dubuque, Iowa, has also been scrapped.
The Iowa event will instead be held virtually, according to Republican sources. The White House said Mr Trump would host at least 20 tele-rallies before election day, targeting voters in Texas, Kansas, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
“These events give him the opportunity to highlight his accomplishments and expand his reach across the country,” the White House said.
The virtual events are intended to maximise Mr Trump’s time and allow him to reach more voters across multiple states. Republican National Committee chairman Joe Gruters described the final campaign push as “a huge boost in the closing days”.
Mr Trump addressed the cancellation during an exchange with a Reuters reporter, who asked whether he was tired of travelling. “You’re sick to ask that question,” he replied.
“I’m not going to Kansas because [Marshall] is doing really well,” Mr Trump said. “I don’t feel like I have to go to Kansas, I’m going to Florida tomorrow.”
He then told the reporter: “You’ve been following me for two weeks. I feel perfect. You are disgusting, you look like hell.”
Mr Marshall said he was unsure why the Kansas rally had been cancelled, adding: “I think-they think it might do with I’m doing so well in the polls, he’s probably got better places to spend his time.”
However, a CNN poll published on Monday showed Mr Marshall four percentage points behind Hamilton.
Mr Trump travelled to South Carolina earlier in the day to support Darline Graham in the close race to fill the Senate seat held by her late brother, Lindsey Graham, who died in July aged 71.
“I’m asking you to do me one favor – pretend that I’m on the ballot,” Mr Trump told supporters at a rally in Rock Hill as he urged them to vote for Ms Graham.
He is due to return to Florida on Friday to support Representative Byron Donalds’s campaign for governor and Senator Ashley Moody’s bid for the Senate. He is also expected to return to Michigan before election day, although no rally has been formally announced.
