Former president Donald trump launched his latest midterm sprint by touching down in Anchorage, where a brief rally was followed by a rapid departure for the Sun Belt. The Alaska stop, a state that voted for him by a double-digit margin in 2024, highlighted mounting concerns over rising fuel costs and a contentious war in the Middle East. In his speech, Trump echoed the standard refrain that the conflict in the Middle East is temporary, while casting the Democratic Party as the permanent adversary of Alaskan oil and gas jobs.
Polls in Alaska show a remarkably close Senate contest: Democratic nominee Mary Peltola is either tied with or marginally ahead of incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan. The race has become a litmus test for the broader national mood, as voters weigh energy-price inflation against the president’s hawkish rhetoric on Iran. Sullivan, while acknowledging the “challenges” of high diesel and gasoline prices, dismissed the war as fleeting and warned that the true long-term battle is against Democrats’ opposition to Alaska’s energy sector.
Arizona and Montana: New rally stops and tight Senate battles
After Alaska, Trump’s itinerary shifts to the desert city of Bullhead City, Arizona, where he is slated to speak at 3 p.m. ET. The Arizona rally arrives amid a razor-thin contest for the state’s 6th congressional district and a Governor’s race that pits incumbent Democrat Katie Hobbs against Republican congressman Andy Biggs. Hobbs seeks a second term, but Biggs has already secured Trump’s endorsement in the primary, turning the governor’s race into another proxy battle for the former president’s agenda.
Later that day, the campaign train rolls north to Kalispell, Montana. The Montana stop coincides with a three-way Senate race featuring Republican former U.S. attorney Kurt Alme Democrat retired Air Force officer Alani Bankhead and independent veteran Seth Bodnar. Party insiders note that the Democratic establishment is coalescing around Bodnar, who trails Alme in most polls but leads Bankhead. Recent turmoil includes the resignation of Montana Democratic Chair Shannon O’Brien who publicly backed Bodnar and criticized Republican strategies designed to split the opposition.
During the Montana appearance, Trump will likely reiterate his promise to support mail-in voting, a stance that contrasts with his previous efforts to delegitimize the practice. He also used his Alaska visit to grant pardons to two small-business owners convicted of Clean Air Act violations, portraying the move as a defense of rural America against federal overreach.
Media ban showdown and other controversies
While the campaign trail heats up, a federal judge in Washington has ordered the White House to keep three news outlets—CNNMS Now and Politico—on its premises. The preliminary injunction follows a September 18, 2026 decree by President Trump that barred the outlets for alleged “fake news” reporting. Judge Timothy Kelly cited a “notice problem” for the administration and emphasized the importance of preserving constitutional press freedoms during the ongoing litigation.
Trump’s social-media activity has also drawn criticism. While aboard Air Force One en route to Alaska, he posted a video of a British man who was mauled by a tiger at a wildlife park, captioned, “Don’t ever mess with nature!” The family of the victim expressed severe distress, accusing the post of exploiting a tragedy. An AI-generated clip of Trump “grappling” with a tiger followed, further inflaming the debate over the president’s use of the platform.
Other diplomatic ripples include the pending resignation of U.S. ambassador to Greece Katherine Guilfoyle who has yet to be formally replaced according to Greek officials. Meanwhile, Italy’s prime minister warned that Trump’s recent diesel-purchase deal with Russia carries “very risky” implications, suggesting it could inadvertently legitimize Moscow’s actions in Ukraine.
