It should come as no surprise that former U.S. president Donald Trump’s appearance at the Iowa-Iowa State football game Saturday turned into a spectacle.
Trump, facing much-documented legal woes in four different jurisdictions, traveled to the Cyclones’ Jack Trice Stadium in Ames for the annual rivalry game.
A huge throng of supporters chanted, “USA! USA!” as Trump and his Secret Service entourage made their way into the stadium.
President @realDonaldTrump arrives at Jack Trice Stadium! pic.twitter.com/uihKKazQ14
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) September 9, 2023
Trump traveled to Iowa because the state holds the critical first GOP nominating caucus next year. He also attended the 2015 Iowa-Iowa State game for the same reason. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and several other GOP presidential candidates were also on hand to pretend to be fascinated by the Hawkeyes-Cyclones rivalry.
Trump found a more mixed reaction inside Jack Trice Stadium (which he’d accidentally referred to as “Jack Truce Stadium” in a recent tweet). There was a mix of cheers and boos as his image appeared on the video board.
Donald Trump is at the Iowa/Iowa State game today
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) September 9, 2023
Before the game, Trump made a surprise appearance at the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity house in Des Moines, where he signed photos and tossed autographed footballs into a crowd of hundreds.
Iowa State college students go WILD as President Trump throws autographed footballs to crowd at fraternity tailgate pic.twitter.com/ooP94fWtyD
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 9, 2023
The images of Trump surrounded by throngs of adoring supporters, who are willing to ignore all of his legal issues and personality flaws, shows just why the left side of the political spectrum is worried about the most controversial U.S. politician in recent history. Several leading progressive analysts have raised the prospect that Trump could retake the presidency in 2024 despite his legal baggage.
Not surprisingly, comments on Trump’s appearance broke sharply along political fault lines.
If you wonder why the left wants to see him in jail, this image.
— 🌷Silvina🌷 (@SilvinaFlorida) September 9, 2023
This is genius. Trump can’t draw a big crowd himself so they take him to a crowded place to make it look like he can
— Luke Zaleski (@ZaleskiLuke) September 9, 2023
Ex-President/Grifter/Scum/Indicted Criminal. There, now it's fixed.
— Hmm….What? (@thedealwhat) September 9, 2023
https://twitter.com/danevanssays/status/1700621030086099230
https://twitter.com/CBKNEWS121/status/1700591271796961318
This man is truly not afraid of anything even assassination
— Capitalist Mike 🇺🇲 (@Capitalist_Mike) September 9, 2023
He was booed when he entered the stadium bowl and there was a “where is Melania” flag flying overhead! Trump has been exposed as a fraud and he’s going to lose Iowa! 😂🤣
— L. Roomer 🐯🦅 (@CoachWilldvc11) September 9, 2023
Crowd doesn’t sound particularly friendly to me. I am sure the student body is reviled by him.
— Boston Girl (@jbrady177) September 9, 2023
[The Post Millennial; Photo Credit: Simon Ateba]
