Alabama vs. Georgia is consistently one of the most anticipated matchups in college football, and this year’s game will have a former U.S. president in attendance.
Current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is scheduled to be at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on September 28 to watch the Crimson Tide face off against the Bulldogs. This information was confirmed by a source familiar with Trump’s campaign itinerary to the Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The 45th president of the United States is known for attending various sporting events, a trend he maintained even during his presidency. He has appeared at the annual Army-Navy game, the College Football Playoff national championship, and the World Series. More recently, he attended the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race and is a regular presence at UFC events.
In addition to the 2018 national championship game, Trump has previously watched the Crimson Tide play at home. He attended the highly anticipated 2019 matchup between Alabama and LSU in Tuscaloosa, where he received cheers when shown on the stadium’s jumbotron. It marked the first time a sitting U.S. president had attended an Alabama football home game.
Trump was the subject of an apparent assassination attempt at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday. The suspect, who authorities said never fired a shot, was arrested and Trump was not harmed.
John Wahl, a chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, said in a statement to Tuscaloosa News he doesn’t know if the incident will change Trump’s planned visit, but he is “extremely excited” about the idea of Trump attending the game.
“The people of Alabama share a special connection with Donald Trump, and the Republican Party is always thrilled to welcome him to our state,” Wahl stated.
Both Alabama and Georgia have a bye this week ahead of their highly anticipated showdown.
