Former President Donald Trump attended his second college football game in an early primary state this year as he looked to upstage former Republican South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
The former president and current front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination walked into Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia on Saturday night to chants of “We want Trump! We want Trump!” from fans gathered for the annual Palmetto Bowl, the state’s biggest sporting event of the year.
Haley, a Clemson alumna and trustee who was twice elected South Carolina governor, did not attend.
Trump was a guest of Gov. Henry McMaster, Haley’s successor. The entourage, which entered through a veritable tunnel of Trump supporters on its way to a private suite, also included South Carolina’s senior U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, giving the former president a show of local political force at a game featuring Haley’s alma mater.
In 2017, McMaster became the Governor of South Carolina after Trump appointed Haley as the United Nations ambassador. While Graham and Haley have been allies in the past, they both currently support Trump, who holds a strong lead in the polls among Republican voters, including in early nominating states like South Carolina.
At halftime of a recent game, Trump appeared on the field with McMaster, receiving mostly cheers and a few boos as he took some photos and waved to the crowd. The game was also broadcast on ESPN’s SEC Network, which showed Trump sitting with McMaster in the stands.
Trump is slated to attend the gridiron battle between the University of South Carolina and Clemson, Haley’s alma mater, on Saturday. The trip comes as Haley has emerged as a threat to the GOP nomination for the former president, alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL).
Trump is going to dominate Nikki Haley in her own state.
There’s no stopping this guy.pic.twitter.com/7pSYIcCGWu
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) November 26, 2023
