President Donald Trump backtracked Friday on the cancelation of two rallies for the US midterms, in a febrile end to campaigning for elections that will decide whether Republicans will keep control of Congress.
Trump put the events in Kansas and Iowa back on the schedule for Sunday, less than 24 hours after Republicans announced that he would no longer appear in either state.
The sudden changes had raised questions about the 80-year-old president's health -- prompting an angry tirade from him when a reporter asked whether he was feeling well -- and the state of Republican polling ahead of the November 3 vote.
"The rallies are back on. President Trump loves his supporters, and in addition to nearly 20 tele-rallies, he will hold back-to-back rallies in Kansas and Iowa on Sunday," a party source familiar with Trump's weekend planning told AFP.
Trump had originally been scheduled to campaign in Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday, but both appearances were scrapped on Thursday.
Republicans had said he would instead concentrate on telephone rallies.
Trump had lashed out on Thursday when he was asked if he was scrapping the Kansas trip because he was "sick of traveling."
"I feel perfect," Trump snapped, saying he no longer needed to visit Kansas because Republican Senator Roger Marshall was "doing very well."
Both Kansas and Iowa voted comfortably for Trump in 2024, but have emerged as unexpected battlegrounds for Republicans.
Marshall faces a competitive challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton in Kansas, which has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932. In Iowa, Republican congresswoman Ashley Hinson is fighting a close race against Democrat Josh Turek.
Republicans are defending their 53-47 majority in the Senate in Tuesday's elections, while Democrats are seeking to capture at least one chamber of Congress and curb Trump's legislative agenda during his final two years in office.
A record 47.9 million Americans have already voted in the US midterms, with participation surging in key battleground states and registered Democrats outpacing Republicans, figures showed Friday.
The surge is especially pronounced in states with fiercely contested Senate races.
Trump has also repeatedly warned that he will face a third impeachment if Republicans lose, although Democrats may be more likely to focus on the 2028 presidential election.
Political strategist Mike Fahey, a veteran of multiple election campaigns, told AFP Trump's about-face was likely the result of the questions over his energy levels.
"My suspicion is that Trump didn't particularly like that narrative, and putting the events back on the calendar was the fastest way to kill it," he said.
"There's also a legitimate campaign strategy argument here... A phone call doesn't generate the same local headlines, television coverage or excitement as Air Force One landing in your state three days before an election."
Trump has put himself at the center of the Republicans' midterm strategy, telling them to "pretend I'm on the ballot" in the belief that it will fire up his loyal base.
He has promised a $5,000 "dividend" for every American citizen if Republicans keep control of Congress, and stepped up harsh rhetoric against migrants, Muslims and transgender people.
But Trump's dismal approval ratings may be a drag on Republican chances. Polls show US voters are angry about the cost of living and oppose his war on Iran.
Trump is widely reported to be considering a resumption of large-scale strikes against Iran in the coming days, most likely after the midterms.
Democrats, meanwhile, fear Trump won't accept a Republican loss in the midterms -- as he did in the 2020 presidential election -- after he recently ramped up claims of voter fraud.
"We had a rigged election in 2020. We cannot ever let that happen again," Trump said in an interview with the KCMO radio station in Kansas City.