President Donald Trump reversed his decision to cancel the final two rallies before the Midterm elections, after initially switching to tele-rallies amid questions over his health and travel willingness. The dramatic about-face came as the Republican campaign descended into chaos.
Trump had been scheduled to visit Kansas for a rally on Saturday and another in Iowa on Sunday, the final events in a month of almost daily rallies. Instead of visiting in person, Trump planned to hold "tele-rallies" - mass conference calls where supporters can dial in to hear the President speak from the Oval Office.
Cancellation and reversal
Last night officials said the rallies had been "rearranged for scheduling purposes to accommodate dozens of additional tele-rallies that were recently added to the President's schedule." But the chaotic U-turn gave many the impression Trump was not happy with the optics of cancellation.
Trump angrily denied being "sick of travelling" on Thursday night as he cancelled the pair of rallies just days before the Midterm elections. Republican Senator Roger Marshall is at risk of losing his Kansas seat on Tuesday, with a "blue tsunami" of seats poised to flip to the Democrats.
Exchange with reporter
Trump lashed out at a reporter who asked about the cancelled rally. "I think he's doing well," Trump said. "We're going to do a tele-rally for him instead. He's doing he's doing very well, actually."
In supposedly deep red Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton led Marshall by one point in a poll published yesterday - well within the margin of error. "How's your health?," a reporter asked Trump who was returning to the White House after a rally in South Carolina.
He replied: "I think very good. I think you see that we had a great rally."
"So you not going to Kansas has nothing to do with you being sick of traveling?" the reporter asked.
The US President retorted: "Oh, you're sick to ask that question. You are sick."
President's response
He asked who the reporter represented, and when told he was from Reuters, he said: "You are a sick guy. Reuters is terrible, by the way. Make sure you're doing well. Look at this guy. He's way out of shape. Look at how badly he comes to me. Sir, you're not going to go to Kansas. I'm not going to Kansas because he's doing very well."
Trump added: "I don't feel I have to go to Kansas. I'm going to Florida tomorrow and I'll do if something else comes up." But he said, "You're not going to Kansas, sir. Are you feeling well? You've been following me for two weeks. I feel perfect. You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell."
