17 states and one request: Trump sets out to save the Republican majority

US President Donald Trump has launched a campaign tour across at least 17 states, starting with a rally in Ohio, aiming to bolster Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections. Trump urged the crowd to pretend he is running, in order to overcome concerns about loyal voter apathy when his name is not on the ballot. Democrats are attacking the link between economic policy and the war in Iran.

US President Donald Trump has launched a massive campaign tour across at least 17 states, starting with a rally in Ohio, aiming to save the Republican majority in Congress. The main purpose of the Ohio visit is to bolster incumbent Senator Jon Husted, who was appointed after JD Vance was elected Vice President, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. In his speech, which lasted about an hour and a half before a hall that was not completely full, Trump openly addressed the central challenge: fear that loyal voters' apathy, who come only for him, will lead to low turnout. "When I run, we win, but for some reason when I don't run, they bring 44% fewer people," Trump said, asking the crowd to "pretend I'm running, because if you do that, you will win big." Husted's race has become one of the most expensive and tightest in the US, with Super PACs investing tens of millions of dollars. Democrats are attacking Republicans on economic issues and tensions with Iran, including billboards linking Husted's positions to gas prices. The tour is expected to pass through at least 17 states until Election Day on November 3.