President Donald Trump lashed out at a reporter on Thursday after being questioned about whether health concerns prompted the sudden cancellation of his planned weekend campaign stop in Kansas.
Speaking to reporters following remarks at a South Carolina event, where he appeared visibly perspiring, Trump dismissed inquiries about his well-being and directed personal insults at the questioner. He called the reporter “way out of shape,” told them they “looked like hell,” and labeled the inquiry “disgusting.”
“You know what the reason is? I don’t feel I have to go to Kansas,” Trump said. Recounting the exchange, he added, “He said, ‘You’re not going to Kansas, sir, are you feeling well?’ You’ve been following me for two weeks. I feel perfect. Put yourself in shape.”
Trump was originally scheduled to appear at Salina Regional Airport to campaign for embattled Republican incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall, who faces a competitive re-election challenge. Pieter Miller, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority, confirmed that all scheduled Salina events had been called off due to schedule adjustments.
Instead of an in-person visit, the White House announced that the president will participate in a series of virtual events. Officials stated that Trump will connect directly with voters nationwide through more than 20 telerallies ahead of Election Day to highlight his administration’s accomplishments and expand his reach.
Kansas Republican Party officials learned of the schedule change through the Republican National Committee. Kansas GOP Chair Danedri Herbert told local media that she received notice of the cancellation without immediate details regarding rescheduled appearances. Rob Fillion, executive director for the state party, defended the pivot, noting that virtual events allow the president to address multiple locations simultaneously as Republicans navigate competitive races nationwide.
The cancelled appearance comes as control of Congress hangs in the balance during the midterm elections, with several traditionally safe Republican states seeing tightening margins. In Kansas, where voters have not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1939, recent CNN/SSRS polling published Thursday showed Democratic challenger and pastor Adam Hamilton leading incumbent Senator Marshall 49 percent to 45 percent among likely voters. The polling also indicated Marshall held a 36 percent favorability rating compared to Hamilton’s 41 percent.
During a prior campaign appearance in Park City, Kansas, at the Heartland Credit Union Arena, the president’s speech was repeatedly interrupted by protesters, leading to the ejection of at least 11 individuals. Trump claimed without evidence that the demonstrators were paid participants. During that same rally, the president defended Senator Marshall’s past legal actions involving medical debt collection by his former law firm while working as an OB-GYN, invoking an ethnic slur while asserting that Marshall’s requests for payment were legally required.
