CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins highlighted an unusual change in Donald Trump’s midterm campaign schedule after the president initially canceled two upcoming in-person rallies in Kansas and Iowa. The decision prompted Trump’s campaign to shift toward virtual events. It comes as a move Collins compared with his more intensive 2018 midterm schedule.
Kaitlan Collins compares Trump’s 2026 and 2018 campaign schedules
Speaking to Anderson Cooper on “Anderson Cooper 360°” on Thursday, Collins noted that Trump had held about 25 rallies during October. She said that after his scheduled Friday appearance in Daytona Beach, Florida, the schedule at the time did not include any additional in-person campaign events for Trump before the midterms. The campaign was instead replacing the canceled Kansas and Iowa events with tele-rallies.
Collins said, “It’s pretty unusual, Anderson, because the president likes to tout how much he’s been on the road.”
She recalled covering Trump’s 2018 midterm campaign, when he frequently held multiple rallies in a single day.
“Back in 2018, he was doing still multiple rallies a day before Tuesday night, two a day, three a day in some cases, leading up to those midterms,” she said.
Collins added that the upcoming election could “deeply impact” the final two years of Trump’s presidency.
The White House defended the shift, saying Trump would participate in more than 20 tele-rallies to connect with voters nationwide. Collins explained that these virtual appearances typically last 10 to 15 minutes, making them substantially shorter than Trump’s in-person rallies.
The CNN host also reported that some Republican officials were relieved by Trump’s decision to spend less time on the campaign trail. Speaking on “The Source,” she recalled one official saying, “Thank God, he hasn’t moved the needle anywhere.” Another reportedly commented, “Everyone has seen the president who wants to see him.”
Meanwhile, Kaitlan Collins also addressed Trump’s response to a Reuters reporter who questioned him about his health and recent campaign schedule. Trump told Jacob Bogage, “You’ve been following me for two weeks, I feel perfect,” before adding, “You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape, you look like hell.”
Collins said the journalist had asked a straightforward question and was not suggesting that Trump was ill. She added that the president’s reaction to the question about his health and the rally cancellations “says a lot.”
Trump’s schedule subsequently changed again. On Friday, Reuters reported that the Kansas and Iowa rallies had been reinstated for Sunday. His team had rearranged the schedule to accommodate nearly 20 tele-rallies.
