The president cancelled the events in favor of tele-rallies, as Republicans face a fight to retain control of Congress

Donald Trump cancelled, and then promptly uncancelled, two in-person rallies in Kansas and Iowa this weekend as polls suggest US midterm election races in the previous Republican strongholds could go down to the wire.

On Thursday, just five days before election day, the Republican National Committee (RNC) announced the president would no longer host the Kansas and Iowa rallies and instead participate in “a large number of tele-rallies”. The RNC claimed it felt it was in a “strong position” in Kansas and Iowa.

Senate candidate Mary Peltola speaks out as US justice department escalates criminal investigation

• Alaska Senate race: what to know about Democrats’ alleged ballot-stacking effort

Mary Peltola has denied that she knew anything about an effort to put another candidate on the Alaska ballot with the same name as the Republican incumbent, as the US justice department escalated a criminal investigation this week with new grand jury subpoenas.

“I just want to clear the air,” the Democratic Senate candidate said on Thursday at the top of a speech in a downtown bar in Juneau, Alaska’s capital. “I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent. That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters.”

The rallies are reportedly back on after Trump was questioned by a reporter about his health

The rallies are reportedly back on after Trump was questioned by a reporter about his health

The rallies are reportedly back on after Trump was questioned by a reporter about his health

Some of Tuesday’s U.S. midterm races may take weeks to clear recounts and court challenges, but ultimately, the Senate and House of Representatives decide who gets seated

Some of Tuesday’s U.S. midterm races may take weeks to clear recounts and court challenges, but ultimately, the Senate and House of Representatives decide who gets seated

Some of Tuesday’s U.S. midterm races may take weeks to clear recounts and court challenges, but ultimately, the Senate and House of Representatives decide who gets seated

‘This is disgusting. But not surprising,’ one critic condemned Vance’s remark

Pontiff posts mail-in ballot ahead of crucial elections and after sparring with Donald Trump earlier this year over the Iran war, which saw the president accuse him of being ‘weak’ and ‘endangering Catholics’

Pontiff posts mail-in ballot ahead of crucial elections and after sparring with Donald Trump earlier this year over the Iran war, which saw the president accuse him of being ‘weak’ and ‘endangering Catholics’

Pontiff posts mail-in ballot ahead of crucial elections and after sparring with Donald Trump earlier this year over the Iran war, which saw the president accuse him of being ‘weak’ and ‘endangering Catholics’

Julio Herrera Velutini, whose family retained Habba as an attorney reportedly before she left office, was pardoned by Trump in January

Julio Herrera Velutini, whose family retained Habba as an attorney reportedly before she left office, was pardoned by Trump in January

Julio Herrera Velutini, whose family retained Habba as an attorney reportedly before she left office, was pardoned by Trump in January

Footage shows the jet soaring over the White House as Trump and children in costumes look skyward

The bipartisan legislation would give the Federal Trade Commission enforcement power by classifying unapproved restaurant listings as unfair or deceptive trade practices

The bipartisan legislation would give the Federal Trade Commission enforcement power by classifying unapproved restaurant listings as unfair or deceptive trade practices

Footage shows the jet soaring over the White House as Trump and children in costumes look skyward

The race is considered key to control of the U.S. Senate