US President Donald Trump has announced a 32-day campaign tour ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, putting himself at the centre of the Republican effort to retain control of Congress. Speaking to reporters outside the White House alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson, Trump said he would begin the tour this week with stops in Texas and Ohio.

The November elections will decide whether Republicans keep the House of Representatives and the Senate or whether Democrats gain the power to shape Trump's final two years in office, including through investigations into his administration. Polls show Democrats leading in key House races, with voters concerned about high gasoline prices and the ongoing war with Iran.

Trump dismissed suggestions that some Republicans are distancing themselves from him, insisting candidates want him to campaign. The late campaign blitz comes after a White House calendar dominated for much of the year by foreign policy and the Iran conflict.