Trump holds over 25 rallies in October to support GOP Senate candidates

President Donald Trump spent October holding more than 25 campaign rallies to support Republican Senate candidates facing difficult races. He visited red states including South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas to boost nominees he selected personally. Darline Graham in South Carolina and Michael Whatley in North Carolina have struggled to generate excitement among party voters. Trump used these appearances to tell supporters that their time with him in the spotlight is limited. He told the crowd in South Carolina that he hopes they enjoy the rallies because they are never going to see them again. He added that people will never see what his group has accomplished or see it happen again.

The president is not on the ballot for the 2026 midterms, yet he asked voters to pretend he is. He told a crowd in Greenville, North Carolina, that he is effectively on the ballot because opponents want to remove the tax cuts and border policies he implemented. Trump has also leaned on familiar themes during his travels. In Lubbock, Texas, he called tariffs his fifth favorite word, noting that he previously ranked it as his favorite. He claimed the tariffs have made the country rich.

The president also introduced a new bit of comedy involving Ohio Senator John Husted. Trump told audiences that he studied Husted and made the mistake of saying he started by looking at his backside. He claimed Husted rose 12 points in polls that day and moved from trailing to leading, a statement he made despite evidence to the contrary. He even made the joke in Texas while reviewing the looks of local candidate Ken Paxton.

Trump promised a $5,000 dividend to American adults if Republicans win both chambers of Congress. He joked that the amount might only buy a hamburger and a small dessert at Mar-a-Lago. He noted that his Florida resort is not a great place for cost-conscious visitors. This message comes in a year when affordability is a primary concern for many voters.

Supporters have traveled from across the country to attend these events. Blake Marnell, a fan from San Diego known for wearing a brick-pattern suit, took the entire month of October off work. He said he went from rally to rally, comparing the experience to a cruise. Cindy New from Emerald Isle, North Carolina, voted for Trump three times but had never seen him live. She said she felt she had to come see him once before he was no longer a candidate.

Valerie Thivierge in Fort Myers, Florida, closed her Trump-themed store to attend a rally. She said she has wanted to see the president all year. The Republican National Committee briefly canceled two weekend rallies in Iowa and Kansas to replace them with tele-rallies. Less than 24 hours later, the in-person events were reinstated for Sunday. A source familiar with the change said Trump loves his supporters and will hold back-to-back rallies in those states.

Trump told a crowd in Daytona Beach, Florida, that he thought the final stop was done. He said that 28 days of campaigning was a lot and that his voice was operating at about 49.2 percent. He told the audience in Corpus Christi, Texas, that they have been working together for 11 years and that there has never been anything like it politically.