Trump cancels Kansas and Iowa weekend rallies, will phone in to events

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the weekend campaign stops scheduled in Salina, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa, have been cancelled. His campaign team said he will instead deliver telephone remarks to rallies across the country after a month of traveling to support Republican candidates.

Trump told reporters he did not feel the need to visit Kansas, where Republican Senator Roger Marshall is facing a competitive race against Democrat Adam Hamilton. He said Marshall is doing well and expressed confidence in a strong Tuesday night for the party.

The Republican National Committee also issued a statement cancelling a planned Iowa rally, noting the state hosts several competitive congressional contests. Since October 1, Trump has held 25 rallies in 19 states, primarily in rural, Republican-leaning areas, as the midterm elections approach.

MAGA Inc, a campaign-funding organization aligned with the president, said it will organize a series of "tele-rallies" in at least 19 states, including Kansas and Iowa, before Election Day. Trump is still slated to travel to other rally sites, such as Florida, before the Tuesday elections.

During a recent appearance in Mississippi, Trump remarked that the length of his speeches has been taxing, noting he sounded hoarse. After campaigning for Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina, he responded to a reporter’s question about his travel schedule by saying he feels perfect.

"You've been following me for two weeks," Trump said before boarding his motorcade back to the White House.

The cancellations come as Republicans seek to retain narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.