Saturday’s Cy-Hawk football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones was a huge deal in the state of Iowa.
And that’s before Republican Presidential nominee hopefuls like Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy showed up.
Trump, who hasn’t done much stumping in the state before the November primary, showed up Saturday to make sure locals saw his face and might consider voting for him once more. While he received cheers at times, he also got some boos, and it was clear not everyone in Iowa was happy to see him.
Before the game, a plane with a “Where’s Melania?” banner flew over Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.
Injured White House hopeful Doug Burgum rides his scooter around the Iowa-Iowa State tailgate, while a plane flies a “WHERE’S MELANIA?” banner overhead pic.twitter.com/QF3MCUBKWa
— Stephanie Murray (@stephanie_murr) September 9, 2023
Melania, who was First Lady when Trump was President, has been virtually absent on the campaign trail, remaining in Florida with her son, Barron. While the former First Lady says she backs his potential return to the White House, a report in The New York Times says that she does not desire to return there and sees her experience as First Lady as a largely negative one.
While Trump is currently the frontrunner in Iowa polls, it appears that there is still a strong contingent of people who would prefer the four-time indicted former President didn’t return to that role.
Trump now joins DeSantis as Republican candidates who have been mocked by plane banner. During the Iowa State Fair, a banner that read “Be likeable, Ron!” flew overheard.
