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The U.S. Capitol dome and an American flag in Washington, D.C. File photo.
Trump Warns Kansas Voters of US Unrest if Democrats Win Midterms
PARK CITY, Kansas — October 19, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump warned voters in Kansas that the United States could face unrest similar to recent riots in France if Democrats win elections, using the violence overseas to support Republican efforts to retain a closely contested Senate seat.
Trump made the remarks on Monday at a rally supporting Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who is seeking re-election against Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton. The race has drawn attention because Kansas, a traditionally conservative state, has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 94 years.
Trump referred to protests and riots in France, where demonstrations over the cost of living and underfunded public services have led to looting and other violence. He offered no evidence that a Democratic election victory would cause similar unrest in the United States.
“When you see burning steeples and raging fires in France, just remember that is what the radical Dumocrats want to do to America,” Trump told the crowd, using his mocking nickname for Democrats.
His speech also included anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Civil rights groups have repeatedly criticized Trump for language targeting immigrants and ethnic minorities, arguing that such statements can encourage discriminatory attitudes.
The Kansas rally was part of Trump's wider campaign effort to help Republicans retain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections. Republicans face voter concerns over rising prices and the war involving Iran, putting pressure on candidates even in states that have strongly supported Trump in previous elections.
Marshall, a first-term senator, faces Hamilton, a Methodist megachurch pastor who has criticized Trump's tariff policies and what he describes as the president's unpredictable leadership. Trump won Kansas by 16 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, but the Senate contest has become unexpectedly competitive.
During the rally, Trump accused Hamilton of wanting white Americans to feel guilty about their background. Marshall focused on cultural issues, including opposition to what he called radical Islam, and criticized Hamilton for supporting gay pride parades.
Marshall also argued that Kansas needed a senator familiar with rural life, saying the state needed someone who could work with cattle. Hamilton's campaign responded that the rally's political attacks did not address the financial pressures facing residents.
Campaign spokesperson Tyson Brody said Kansans were struggling with rising gasoline and diesel prices, access to affordable health care and concerns about corruption in Washington. In a video released on Monday, Hamilton said he would cooperate with Trump when appropriate while opposing federal policies that harm farmers and rural hospitals.
The contest reflects wider difficulties for Republicans as they try to keep their narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. Democrats need a net gain of four seats in the House of Representatives and four in the Senate to take control of both chambers, based on the reported party seat counts.
Trump has been campaigning heavily in Republican-friendly areas during a 32-day tour. A Republican familiar with the campaign strategy said internal polling showed weaker support among rural men aged 55 and younger, a group that helped Trump win the presidency in 2024.
Economic concerns were visible outside the Kansas rally. At a truck stop near the event, signs displayed gasoline at $3.98 per gallon and diesel at $5.78. The report said the gasoline price was about 45% higher than the state's average a year earlier, citing the American Automobile Association.
Some Trump supporters said the cost of living remained a serious concern. Monique Mullen, a 59-year-old Republican voter from Hutchinson who receives disability benefits and cares for her father, said prices continued to rise and that finding enough food could feel like a struggle.
Other voters at the event challenged Trump's economic policies. James Nightingale, an independent voter and farmer from Halstead, said tariffs had hurt grain markets in his area and questioned the administration's decision to allow beef imports.
Trump's approval rating is also putting pressure on Republican candidates. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Monday found that 31% of Americans approved of his performance, the lowest level recorded for him in that polling series.
Although Kansas has long favored Republicans in federal elections, voters have also supported Democrats in statewide contests. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly has won two consecutive terms, showing that the state's political landscape is not entirely predictable as the midterm campaign continues.
