Trump’s flip-flop and freakout over weekend rallies expose a president in panic mode

Facing what polls suggest will be a punishing midterm election, President Donald Trump reversed himself over the weekend and put two Senate rallies back on his schedule, in Kansas and Iowa, for candidates Roger Marshall and Ashley Hinson. The White House had scrapped them in favor of a stay in Palm Beach, Florida, and phone-in appearances. The turnaround came a day after Trump snapped at a Reuters reporter who asked whether he was "sick" of campaigning, telling the reporter he felt perfect and calling the reporter disgusting, according to The Independent.

Trump, 80, has spent part or all of 23 days this month traveling, including rallies in Texas for Ken Paxton, in Ohio, and in Mississippi, where his approval is near 30 percent. The Independent reports that Republican operatives working on Senate races doubt his visits help and suspect they energize Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X that GOP candidates in both states were trying to keep Trump distant. An aide said the events were only rescheduled. A former White House official told the outlet that staff had urged him to cancel, warning that Marshall or Hinson might lose.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →