President Trump Rallies in Final Days Before Midterms

President Donald Trump made a spirited appearance during a campaign rally at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center on October 29, 2026, in South Carolina. Trump compared the size of his 2016 campaign rallies to those of Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders from the same year. He boasted, “We have the biggest rallies ever in history,” transitioning to a more reflective tone as he continued, “I hope you enjoy it because you’re never going to see it again. You’ll never see what we’ve done. You’ll never see it happen again.”

The rally in South Carolina was intended to support two Senate candidates, Darline Graham in South Carolina and Michael Whatley in North Carolina. Both candidates were handpicked by Trump, yet they struggled to generate enthusiasm among Republican voters. With over 25 rallies held in October alone, Trump focused primarily on red states where Republicans faced tough political challenges. While the rallies were officially aimed at helping Republicans win their races, they also served as a display of Trump’s trademark big and lively gatherings.

Trump won’t be part of the ballot again, and as the midterms draw to a close, it’s uncertain how many Republican candidates will want voters to continue associating them with him. His current appeal involves asking supporters to “Please pretend I’m on the ballot.” He explained the sentiment by stating, “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.” This statement was made during a rally in Greenville, North Carolina. Much like an entertainer on a potential farewell tour, Trump often revisits his popular talking points. One of his regular discussions includes tariffs, which he described as “My favorite word.” He asserted the tariffs have made the country rich.

Trump has also introduced new lines, such as discussing Ohio Sen. Jon Husted’s physique. He humorously recounted a moment in Ohio where he said, “I made the mistake of saying that I started off by studying his ass,” eliciting laughter from the audience. Despite claiming Husted surged in popularity, his assertion lacked data. Trump took this humorous remark even further during a Texas rally, contrasting it with Senate candidate Ken Paxton’s physical appearance, drawing laughs with “Maybe I should do that with Ken Paxton, but I’m not sure your body is going to qualify.”

Trump’s campaign promises also included a potential $5,000 “Trump dividend” for all American adults if the Republicans win control of the House and Senate. He humorously described a hypothetical experience at Mar-a-Lago, saying, “For $5000, the most you’ll be able to buy is a hamburger and maybe a small dessert.” He acknowledged the costly nature of his Florida resort.

For Trump’s loyal followers, these remarks and gestures provide entertainment amidst the midterm elections. Blake Marnell, known for wearing a brick-patterned suit reminiscent of Trump’s border wall promise, is a devoted follower. He remarked, “I took the month of October off thinking that there would be a few rallies. As it turned out, there’s a ton of them.” Marnell travels from rally to rally, enjoying the events like others enjoy cruises.

Cindy New from Emerald Isle, North Carolina shared her anticipation, saying she voted for Trump three times but hadn’t seen him live until the Greenville rally. She expressed excitement, saying, “He can’t run again, they say, so I guess I gotta come while he gets close.” Valerie Thivierge from Fort Myers, Florida closed her store dedicated to Trump for the rally, expressing her devotion: “This is our life. This is what we do all year long.”

Trump explained the motivation for his rallies during an Oval Office event, acknowledging the effort required to engage with the crowd for two hours. He remarked, “There’s a lot of love in those rooms.” Despite Republican National Committee initially announcing cancellation of rallies, Trump returned with in-person events scheduled for Kansas and Iowa. Trump said, “President Trump loves his supporters… he’ll hold back-to-back rallies in Kansas and Iowa on Sunday,” according to a source familiar with the scheduling change.

As Trump’s time as the central figure in politics winds down, his rallies continue to attract dedicated fans. He acknowledged their loyalty in Corpus Christi, Texas with, “We’ve been doing this together for 11 years… there probably never will be anything like it again.” As the election approaches, Trump passionately urged, “Let’s win on November 3rd.”

Trump’s final rally at Daytona Beach, Florida on Friday night was tinged with nostalgia and weariness. He admitted the exhaustion from constant campaigning by stating, “28 days in a row of this crap is a lot.” He added humorously, “My voice is operating at about 49.2%.”