US President Donald Trump focused on Islamophobic remarks and conspiracy theories concerning Democrats during campaign events in Iowa and Kansas. The rallies occurred shortly before the US holds midterm elections to determine control of Congress for the remainder of Trump’s presidency.
Campaign Attacks and Rallies
Speaking at both rallies on Sunday, the president repeated his assertion that Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic US Senate candidate from Michigan, is a “jihadist”. He joked that the Senate would need to set up metal detectors specifically to screen El-Sayed if he wins election.
“We’ll have a hundred senators, and most of them will go directly [into the Senate]… We’re gonna have to get a special metal detector for Abdul,” Trump stated, prompting laughter from the audience.
Trump also reiterated baseless assertions that El-Sayed belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood, an international group with factions classified by the United States as foreign terrorist organizations.
The president encouraged his supporters to vote, asking them to “pretend I’m on the ballot” to boost Republican turnout amid polling indications that the party faces a difficult election. The two events had been cancelled previously before being abruptly rescheduled as Trump’s last travelling campaign stops.
Both speeches experienced multiple interruptions from hecklers. In Iowa, the president mentioned he would “love” Democratic Representative Haley Stevens to cross party lines after she backed El-Sayed’s Republican opponent, Mike Rogers. Stevens previously lost to El-Sayed in the primaries.
Trump also targeted US Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, repeating unsubstantiated claims that she was formerly married to her brother and had children with him. In Kansas, Trump criticized Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton, a church pastor, over his advocacy for trans rights, describing him as a rigid figure who relies on teleprompters for his sermons.
Additional topics in both speeches included the US-Israel conflict with Iran, the cost of living, immigration, alleged media bias against Trump, and the administration of former President Joe Biden.
Crucial Midterm Races
Although Iowa and Kansas generally feature Republican representation, surveys indicate Democrats have a chance to flip both states.
Kansas features five federal congressional contests in the midterms, covering one Senate seat and all four House seats, with the state having last chosen a Democratic senator in 1932. The Iowa Senate contest remains extremely close, while surveys show two state representative seats in Iowa trending toward Democrats.
The US midterm elections take place on November 3.
