Trump’s 'freak show' rallies have a problem even Republicans can’t ignore

U.S. President Donald Trump dances during a campaign rally for U.S. Senator Darline Graham (R-SC) at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S., August 21, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci

A prominent Republican from Kansas has called out President Donald Trump’s campaign rallies and questioned how effective they are in getting voters to turn up at the polls.

Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves compared Trump campaign events to a “freak show at the carnival” during a CNN interview Monday, questioning whether the president showing up to support Sen. Roger Marshall in his reelection campaign would actually help.

Graves, who governed deep-red Kansas from 1995 to 2003, told CNN’s Erin Burnett that people may show up simply to see Trump put on a clown show.

“It’s always very entertaining,” Graves said, but added that he finds it hard to believe it would translate into more votes for Marshall.

Trump took his multi-state campaign rally to Wichita Monday to support the Republican incumbent as polls show a surprisingly competitive Senate race in a state the president carried by about 16 points in 2024.

This intervention comes as Democrat Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor, mounts a challenge in a state that hasn’t elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1932.

Graves believes that Trump’s presence may actually help the Democrat win, telling Burnett:

“I mean, this is -- this is just another indication of, I think, Trump's infatuation with his own self loving to get in front of audiences. They're obviously, you know, the MAGA crowd that's going to adore him, which he gravitates towards, but whether it has any real. political benefit. In fact, if anything, as Adam Hamilton has said, this may end up energizing his supporters even more."

A recent New York Times poll puts both Marshall and Hamilton at 45 percent. CNN reported that Hamilton raised $9 million between July and September, compared with about $800,000 for Marshall over the same period, which appears to suggest the GOP underestimated how competitive this race would become.

Graves has already crossed party lines to support Hamilton; he criticized Marshall's record in Washington and said the senator gave voters no good reasons to reelect him.

Graves also mentioned rising prices and the damage caused by agricultural tariffs.

The former governor also maintained that Trump embrace of Marshall shows he is willing to follow the president rather than use his own judgment.

During the interview, Burnett showed clips of Trump calling Marshall one of the finest people in government and predicting his victory.

Hamilton told CNN he welcomed Trump’s appearance because it showed how tight the race actually is if they need to send the most powerful political figure to defend a seat that once appeared secure.

Trump acknowledged the contest was close before arriving in Kansas, but claimed the polls were fake.

Republican strategists still see his rallies as a way to mobilize supporters who might otherwise stay home, but many GOP candidates fighting for their seats are hesitant to embrace Trump due to his unpopular policies and deeply low approval ratings.

Graves also believes that Trump fans may not necessarily embrace Marshall. Despite the tight polling, the Cook Political Report still favored Republicans, moving the race from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican.”

Despite the polling, Graves believes Hamilton could win while acknowledging it would be difficult in such a red state.

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