Why is Donald Trump at the Alabama-Georgia football game?

On Saturday, more than 100,000 fans will pack into Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa to watch No. 4 Alabama host No. 1 Georgia.

There's more to the winner than just the spoils: the winner of the top five matchup gets a decisive lead in the race for the SEC Championship and is placed in the College Football Playoff.

Among the sea of faces that will be visible at the Crimson Tide's palatial stadium, one will stand out in particular.

Required reading:What you need to know about safety protocols if you go to the Alabama vs. Georgia game

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee seeking to reclaim the office he held from 2017 to 2021, will be at Alabama's game against the Bulldogs. The university confirmed last Thursday that it had been “notified” that Trump planned to enter the competition.

“We have been informed that the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, plans to attend the Alabama-Georgia football game on September 28 after receiving an invitation from a private citizen,” Alabama said in a statement. “The security of our campus remains our top priority, and UAPD will work closely with the U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement partners to coordinate security.

“As with every UA football game, walk-through metal detectors will be in place and the clear bag policy will be strictly enforced. In collaboration with local and federal authorities, additional security measures are being implemented, so fans are encouraged to arrive early to expedite the experience.” The focus of the security screening process will continue to be on providing a safe and positive experience for student-athletes, fans of both teams and all campus visitors to provide gaming experience.

With just over five weeks until Election Day, what exactly brings Trump to Alabama? Here's more on the former president's visit to the Tide's game against Georgia:

Required reading:4 Matchups That Could Define Alabama Football vs. Georgia in SEC Opener

Why is Donald Trump at the Alabama game?

There is nothing special about a sitting or former president attending a major sporting event. If anything, it's a pretty common practice.

In this regard, Trump's presence at Alabama's game against Georgia is just one example of dozens, if not hundreds, of other similar cases.

Nevertheless, the visit raised some questions.

Georgia is one of the key states in the race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, which is expected to be one of the most exciting in American history. In his re-election in 2020, Trump lost Georgia to Joe Biden by 11,779 votes, becoming the first Republican since 1992 to fail to win the state.

This cycle, Harris and Trump are only 0.6% apart in the FiveThirtyEight forecast for the state, with the latter ahead of the former. Of the seven states expected to be the most closely contested in November, Georgia is tied with North Carolina for the group's second-most electoral votes with 16.

But while the game involves Georgia's beloved Bulldogs, Trump will not be setting foot in Georgia for the match. Rather, he will be in Alabama, a state he won by 25 percentage points in 2020 and 27 percentage points in 2016. In fact, a Republican presidential candidate hasn't lost Alabama since 1976.

With only 38 days left until the election, spending time, energy and resources on a public appearance in a state where there is no swing is an unconventional strategy.

His popularity in Alabama, where he has won twice with 62% of the state's vote, is a clue as to why he wants to be at the Tide game.

Recently, Trump has been spotted at sporting events where he is likely to receive a warm reception. He regularly attends UFC matches (UFC CEO Dana White is a supporter and close friend). In May, he attended the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte, North Carolina, the largest city in another swing state, where he received cheers and chants of “USA.”

Although the New York City-raised and Penn-educated former president is not closely associated with any particular program, Trump has made numerous appearances at college football games since his political career began nine years ago. He played in the 2018 and 2020 College Football Playoff Championship Games and played in numerous Army-Navy games. In the months leading up to the 2024 Iowa Republican presidential primary, which he ultimately won by 30 percentage points, he attended the Iowa-Iowa State game, where he received a mixed reaction of boos and cheers.

Required reading:Why Alabama vs. Georgia is important for Kalen DeBoer and Kirby Smart for a variety of reasons

Donald Trump Alabama football

Trump's forays into college football have regularly brought him into close contact with the Tide.

He played in the aforementioned national title game at the end of the 2017 season, leaving at halftime before Tua Tagovailoa and Alabama came back from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter to beat Georgia in overtime. In November 2019, he became the first sitting president to attend an Alabama home football game when he traveled to Tuscaloosa to watch the Tide fall to Joe Burrow and eventual national champion LSU 46-41.

Now he will be able to see Alabama in person for the first time since Kalen DeBoer took over as coach.

“The people of Alabama have a special relationship with Donald Trump and the Republican Party is always pleased to welcome him to our state,” Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl said in a statement to The Tuscaloosa News.

Why is Donald Trump at the Alabama-Georgia football game?

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