Trump plans midterm tele-rally blitz from Mar-a-Lago after security upgrade with anti-missile defenses: Live updates

Trump lashes out at heckler during Florida rally: 'Shut up dope'President Donald Trump is hunkering down in Mar-a-Lago this weekend for a blitz of telerallies to support struggling Republican candidates across the U.S. before Election Day next week.Surface-to-air missile systems have been deployed near the president’s Florida compound and at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump International Airport at the request of U.S. Secret Service, according to federal officials.The defenses are designed to combat potential aerial threats, including aircraft and drones, though officials have not revealed the exact reason for them.Early voting has jumped in key battleground states as candidates begin a final weekend of midterm campaigns. Nearly 50 million Americans have already voted, and early voting has already outpaced the rate of the 2022 midterm electionsChanges to Trump’s campaign schedule this weekend followed a brief cancelation of rallies in Kansas and Iowa, though and the president will now rally in those states on Sunday after GOP officials pulled the plug on the in-person events.“You know what the reason is? I don’t feel I have to go to Kansas,” Trump snapped at a Reuters reporter on Thursday. “I feel perfect. You are disgusting.”The president rallied in Florida on Friday night, where the president lashed out a heckler within minutes of his remarks.Bill Maher’s feud with Trump escalates with Taylor Swift comparisonThe recent tension began after Maher, 70, dined with Trump, Kid Rock and ESPN host Stephen A. Smith at the White House on October 15. The late night HBO host then had Trump’s former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on the October 23 episode of his show, Real Time with Bill Maher, during which Maher poked at Trump on various topics.Caitlin Hornik reports...Brendan Rascius31 October 2026 14:00Frustrated Trump yells ‘shut up’ at protester just minutes into final sprint of midterm ralliesPresident Donald Trump repeatedly shouted “shut up” at a protester who interrupted his midterm campaign rally in Florida, the latest in a series of clashes with demonstrators ahead of Election Day.Trump was just minutes into his speech Friday at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach when a man began heckling him. It’s unclear what the protester was shouting.Brendan Rascius reports...Brendan Rascius31 October 2026 13:36Judge blocks Trump team from threatening election officials with criminal prosecutionIn another major blow to the Trump administration’s midterm planning, a federal judge in California rebuked the government for its “campaign to intimidate, threaten, and coerce state and local officials and employees who are engaged in administering the ongoing midterm 2026 election.”“Although Defendants claim that their actions are designed to halt unlawful voting by noncitizens, their actions are likely to have the effect of interfering with election administration and disenfranchising lawful voters,” U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson wrote Friday night.The order commands the federal agencies to stop threatening election officials with criminal prosecution in its ongoing efforts to target alleged noncitizen voting.Her order arrived hours after a federal appeals court in the state blocked the administration’s efforts to segregate 20,000 ballots, which another judge warned would wreak havoc” on elections in the state. That battle could soon head to the Supreme Court next if the administration wants to keep fighting.(Getty)Alex Woodward31 October 2026 13:17Trump hunkers down in fortified Mar-a-Lago for midterm teleralliesTrump is hunkering down in Mar-a-Lago this weekend for a blitz of telerallies to support struggling Republican candidates across the U.S. before Election Day next week.Surface-to-air missile systems have been deployed near the president’s Florida compound and at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump International Airport at the request of U.S. Secret Service, according to federal officials.The defenses are designed to combat potential aerial threats, including aircraft and drones, though officials have not revealed the exact reason for them.Trump is expected to participate in 19 telerallies this weekend after briefly canceling rallies in Kansas and Iowa. Those rallies are back on — he’s scheduled to attend them back to back on Sunday.But the schedule change sparked confusion among GOP allies and accusations that the president was hiding from the campaign trail as the prospect of midterms losses approaches.(Getty)Alex Woodward31 October 2026 13:12Trump lashes out at protester during Florida rallyTrump lashes out at heckler during Florida rally: 'Shut up dope'Alex Woodward31 October 2026 13:08This live blog is pausedWe are pausing our live coverage, check back for updates soon.Rhian Lubin30 October 2026 18:45What happens if disputed midterm results leave Congress unable to function?Control of Congress could hinge on a handful of races, and when a House or Senate result is contested, the chamber itself has the final say.Some of Tuesday's U.S. midterm races may take weeks to clear recounts and court challenges.The U.S. Constitution makes each chamber of Congress "the judge of ​the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members," giving lawmakers the final say when a House or Senate result is contested.Nearly six years after supporters of President Donald Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as Republicans sought to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden, experts say competitive races could be close enough to trigger challenges, starting at the state level, as the two parties jockey for control of Congress.Read moreRhian Lubin30 October 2026 18:00Vivek Ramaswamy pulls controversial attack ad after Trump defends it as ‘fair game’The MAGA Ohio gubernatorial candidate has finally dropped his attack ad on rival Amy Acton featuring her estranged mother after it sparked a huge public backlash, with the president one of its few defenders.Here’s more.Joe Sommerlad30 October 2026 17:30Vance asked about affordability - and immediately starts talking about senator’s a**Elsewhere on the midterms campaign trail...The exchange unfolded Thursday during a Fox News town hall at Texas Christian University, where student Kate White, vice president of the school's Turning Point USA chapter, pressed Vance on how young Americans could afford to start a life amid soaring housing costs.Read on...Erin Keller30 October 2026 17:00Rallies back on as Republicans are 'feeling bullish about both states'Trump and the Republicans are said to be “feeling bullish” about their prospects in Kansas and Iowa, reportedly one of the reasons behind the U-turn, according to Politico.But polls show the Senate races in each state are close.“Back by popular demand. Feeling bullish about both states, but it’s about giving the people what they want,” a person familiar with the plans told the outlet.In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton has a narrow lead over Republican Roger Marshall, according to Emerson College Polling. In Iowa, Republican Ashley Hinson is ahead of Democrat Josh Turek by two points, according to the NYT poll tracker. Rhian Lubin30 October 2026 16:30