Trump Holds Final Midterm Rallies As Vote Nears

President Donald Trump told supporters that the rallies they were attending would likely never happen again.

The remarks came during a stop in South Carolina, where he sought to energize voters for two Senate candidates he personally selected: Darline Graham in South Carolina and Michael Whatley in North Carolina.

Those candidates have struggled to build momentum among Republican voters. Trump held more than 25 rallies in October alone, primarily in states where his party faces strong political opposition.

Although the official goal is to help Republicans win their races, the events have taken on the tone of a farewell tour. Trump is not on the ballot in 2026, and it remains unclear how many of his nominees will want to campaign on his behalf after the midterms are over.

The president has asked voters to act as if he is running for office.

“Please pretend I'm on the ballot cause in a way I am on the ballot, because they want to do away with all of the tremendous things we've done. The tax cuts, the border,” Trump said at a rally in Greenville, N.C.

The campaign schedule has been intensive. Trump said he spent 28 days in a row campaigning, a pace that left him visibly tired.

“I thought this was it. I thought I could relax. 28 days in a row of this crap is a lot. It's a lot,” he said in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Friday night.

He added that his voice was operating at about 49.2% capacity.

The rallies have drawn a devoted following. Blake Marnell, a fan from San Diego, took the month of October off to attend as many events as possible.

Marnell, known as “Brick Suit” for his wall-themed attire, said he prefers political rallies to cruises. He is certain Trump will hold more events before the 2028 presidential election, but noted that these midterm stops feel different.

Cindy New of Emerald Isle, N.C., said she had voted for Trump three times but never seen him live. She attended the Greenville rally hoping for a good show because it might be her last chance to see him in person before the term limit takes effect, or before he chooses not to run again in eight years. In reality, the constitutional limit applies to consecutive terms, not total terms, but the sentiment among fans is that this is a special moment. “He can't run again, they say, so I guess I gotta come while he gets close,” New said. “I missed all of the rest of them, so I gotta come see him once. I don't need to do it but once. One and done.” The events often included full production elements. In South Carolina, an Air Force One jet flew over the crowd, and Trump delivered a speech that lasted nearly two hours. In Fort Myers, Fla., Valerie Thivierge closed her Trump-themed store to attend the rally. “This is our life. This is what we do all year long and I want to see him,” Thivierge said. Trump's messaging has shifted to include new material alongside his standard topics. He frequently discusses tariffs, calling the word “my favorite.” He has also been repeating a joke about Ohio Senator Jon Husted's posterior, claiming the bit helped Husted rise 12 points in polls, a claim that conflicts with available data. “The audience loved it. By the way, [Husted] went up 12 points that day,” Trump said. The RNC announced on Thursday that it would cancel two weekend rallies in Iowa and Kansas, replacing them with tele-rallies. Less than 24 hours later, the schedule changed again, and the in-person events were confirmed for Sunday. A source familiar with the decision said the president loves his supporters and would hold back-to-back rallies in those two states. The final vote is scheduled for November 3.