Trump rallies in Mississippi and South Carolina as GOP faces internal disputes and Senate races tighten

President Donald Trump held a rally in Corinth, Mississippi, as Republicans seek to energize their base ahead of the midterm elections. The event comes as GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith battles Democrat Scott Colom in a Senate race that has attracted a $1.2 million ad spend from the Senate Majority PAC.

In South Carolina, Trump returned to support Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed to finish the term of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The Cook Political Report recently moved the state's Senate contest from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican," noting that Democrat Annie Andrews has been gaining traction.

A write-in campaign urging voters to select Rep. Ralph Norman instead of Graham has emerged among some GOP supporters, citing perceived unfair national influence in the special primary, including from President Trump. One organizer said the effort reflects a broader frustration that the race could help a Democrat win the seat for the first time since 1998.

Trump also addressed foreign policy, linking the easing of Russia-related sanctions to the release of American Stephen Hubbard from Russian detention. He told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that reinstating sanctions would jeopardize Hubbard’s freedom.

The president defended a controversial Ohio campaign ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, stating he had no knowledge of its content and distancing himself from the ad’s creator, Vivek Ramaswamy.

"We gave nothing in exchange, which is very rare," Trump said when asked about the sanctions discussion.

"It would be a loss, but we see it as a loss either way. There's really no winning here for us, as grassroots conservatives," said Avery Milton, a founder of the write-in movement.

"The Department anticipates this release will put downward pressure on home heating oil costs and make a real difference for Maine homeowners as they prepare for winter," Sen. Susan Collins said in a press release about releasing fuel from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.

Republican leaders, including Vice President JD Vance, urged party members to focus on winning elections rather than criticizing the Ohio ad, describing political disputes as "whining" that distracts from campaign goals.

Political analysts noted that while some of the GOP’s internal conflicts may have limited impact, the combination of competitive Senate races, controversial advertising, and the president’s active campaigning underscores a challenging electoral environment for the party.