Trump Launches Weekly Nationwide Tour in January to Re-Energize GOP Ahead of Midterms

President Donald Trump will begin a weekly domestic tour in January, traveling to battleground states to speak directly to voters and rally support ahead of the midterm elections. His first stop is scheduled for Tuesday in Iowa, where White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told reporters en route to Davos that he will deliver a speech on the economy and energy. Wiles said Cabinet officials will also step up their domestic travel over the coming months.

An Earlier, Strategic Push

The travel surge begins earlier than Trump’s first term, when intense campaign travel supporting Republican candidates did not ramp up until after Labor Day. The White House has not yet released a full schedule of additional stops.

Political Stakes

The announcement comes as multiple polls show the president’s approval slipping and an increasing number of voters blaming federal policies for rising household costs. A recent CBS News poll put Trump’s approval at roughly 41 percent. Some Republicans have also expressed concern that Trump has devoted significant attention to foreign-policy matters this year rather than focusing on domestic issues that voters feel most acutely.

Recent Foreign-Policy Focus

In recent weeks the administration has pursued a series of high-profile foreign-policy actions and statements, including increased pressure on Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, renewed engagement on Ukraine, public discussion about Greenland, and the creation and initial staffing of a controversial "Board of Peace" related to Gaza. Those moves have drawn strong attention and debate while the president's domestic travel remained limited early in the year.

Why Republicans Are Betting On The Tour

Republicans view Trump’s personal appearances and endorsements as an asset that can boost turnout and help close vulnerable races. Party strategists are wary of a repeat of the 2022 midterms, when expected GOP gains did not materialize. The early, concentrated travel push aims to reframe the conversation around economic and energy policy and put the president back on voters’ doorsteps.

"President Trump is Republicans' key to victory this November. No one energizes voters and drives turnout like he does," Republican National Committee spokesperson Kiersten Pels said in a statement to POLITICO.

"The spotlight of the Oval Office is bright, but it shines brighter closer to home. Boots on the ground and good old-fashioned stump speeches are every successful politician's bread and butter," said Harrison Fields, a former Trump White House spokesperson and senior vice president at the CGCN Group.

The White House emphasized the tour will highlight the administration’s economic and energy agenda. Additional dates and locations are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.