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Former President Donald Trump prepares to throw a football to the crowd during a visit to the Alpha Gamma Rho agricultural fraternity at Iowa State University before an NCAA college football game between Iowa State and Iowa, Saturday, September 9, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Former President Donald Trump made an appearance at the Iowa-Iowa State football game, where he was met with a mix of cheers and boos, reflecting the divisive nature of his presence.
Videos circulated on social media capturing the boos and jeers directed at Trump during his visit to Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. Notably, a photo of an Iowa State fan gesturing obscenities toward the former president gained significant attention. The organization "Republicans Against Trump" posted the photo, commenting, "This guy speaks for all of us."
Several other Republican primary candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, were also in attendance at the Iowa-Iowa State game but did not generate the same level of public attention as Trump.
Criticism was not limited to the stadium; a prop plane flew a banner reading "Where's Melania?," alluding to the former first lady's absence from the campaign trail.
Trump and his supporters emphasized the positive aspects of his visit, sharing videos of the former president high-fiving and interacting with his enthusiastic followers, some of whom chanted "U-S-A! U-S-A!" It's worth noting that politicians being booed at sporting events is not uncommon. For instance, during the 1992 presidential campaign, then-candidate and Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton humorously acknowledged the heckling he received at Razorback games. The game itself saw the Iowa Hawkeyes triumph over the Iowa State Cyclones with a final score of 20-13.
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