‘If you ever wondered what’s happening in SC politically, listen to the crowd at a Carolina game,’ Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.) wrote.
Former President Donald Trump went to South Carolina on Nov. 25 and attended a college football game alongside more than 80,000 fans.
President Trump attended the Nov. 25 Palmetto Bowl, a game between
in-state rivals the University of South Carolina and Clemson University. This year, the annual competition was held at Columbia’s Williams-Brice Stadium, home of the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Clemson Tigers won the game 16–7.
“If you ever wondered what’s happening in SC politically, listen to the crowd at a Carolina game. ELECTRIC!” Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.)
wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
He also shared a photo of him and the former president at the stadium’s press box.
“SC is Trump country!” Mr. Fry wrote.
The 45th president was a guest of South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. His trip to Columbia comes less than 100 days before South Carolina voters head to their Republican primary to select their pick for the 2024 presidential election.
The 2024 presidential candidate arrived at the stadium to chants of “We want Trump! We want Trump!” from fans. A
video shared by his campaign shows President Trump distributing boxes of
popcorn to an enthusiastic crowd, many holding up their cellphones to take pictures of him.
Another
video shared by his campaign shows the 2024 frontrunner waving from the press box to fans, many of whom waved back and cheered.
At halftime, President Trump walked onto the field with Mr. McMaster, with the crowd erupting in
loud cheers alongside
some boos. The former president walked around,
posed for photos, and waved to the fans.
Others joining President Trump at the game
included South Carolina’s First Lady, Peggy McMaster; South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette; South Carolina Treasurer Curt Loftis; and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.S.C.).
The Nov. 25 Clemson–South Carolina game isn’t President Trump’s first college football game this year. In September, he
attended the annual Cy–Hawk matchup between Iowa State University and the University of Iowa in Ames, Iowa. Before the game, he stopped by the Iowa State Cyclones’ Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity house,
threw footballs to a crowd, and flipped burgers.
It also wasn’t the first time the former president attended a Clemson football game. In January 2020, he and his wife, Melania Trump,
attended the college football’s national title game between Louisiana State University and Clemson University in New Orleans.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, a Clemson alumna and trustee and a former South Carolina governor, didn’t attend the Clemson–South Carolina game. The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is
scheduled to hold a town hall at the University of South Carolina Beaufort on Nov. 27.
President Trump is leading Ms. Haley in her home state by a hefty margin in
FiveThirtyEight’s GOP presidential primary poll average. As of Nov. 15, the average shows President Trump with 49 percent support and Ms. Haley at a distant second with 19.5 percent, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with 12.1 percent.
Hours before kickoff, President Trump’s campaign
announced that he had received more than 30 new endorsements in South Carolina, including some who had previously
endorsed Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) for his 2024 bid, such as state Sen. Ronnie Cromer and state Rep. Bruce Bannister.
“South Carolina saw its best years under President Trump and the McMaster–Evette Administration,” Mr. Cromer said in a statement. “Tim Scott is a dear friend, and now that he is out of the race, I strongly urge South Carolina’s voters to join me in rallying behind President Trump.”
Mr. Bannister said, “After supporting South Carolina’s own beloved Senator Tim Scott, I am excited today to wholeheartedly endorse President Trump as the best candidate to defeat Joe Biden in 2024. He is a proven leader who will turn around the economy, protect our border and make America energy independent once again.”
Mr. Scott, who
announced his White House bid in May,
withdrew his 2024 campaign on Nov. 12.
President Trump first
revealed his 2024 South Carolina leadership team during an
event at the State House in January.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
