Donald Trump arrived at Bryant-Denny Stadium to cheers and chants of “USA, USA” when attending Alabama’s SEC showdown with Georgia on Saturday.
The former president arrived midway through the first quarter of the game and was joined by musician Kid Rock and golfer John Daly. Fans gathered in the concourse to catch a glimpse of the Republican candidate, and Trump bought several food items to hand out.
The biggest cheer came when Trump was placed on the big screen inside the stadium, with the 100,000-seater crowd erupting in celebration. Trump was made to feel very welcome in Alabama, a state that has been heavily Republican for several decades, and boosted his profile ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election.
Trump will continue to rival Democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris until Nov. 5 when the 2024 United States elections are scheduled. Harris had planned to disrupt Trump’s attendance at Alabama vs. Georgia, but her plans were ruined due to the weather.
Harris is keen to engage in a second televised debate with Trump on Oct. 23 after accepting an invitation from CNN. Both Harris and CNN have put pressure on Trump to attend, stating it will be beneficial for the American public to hear from both parties one final time before voting.
Trump has informally rejected the proposal and said at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina: “The problem with another debate is that it’s just too late, voting has already started.” Harris’ campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon released a statement in an attempt to make Trump comply, writing: “Vice President Harris is ready for another opportunity to share a stage with Donald Trump. Donald Trump should have no problem agreeing to this debate.”
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Harris then posted on social media that she “will gladly accept a second presidential debate” and still believes that Trump “will join” on Oct. 23. To raise the issue in front of Trump, 100,000 football fans, and millions watching at home, Harris had planned for a plane to fly over Bryant-Denny Stadium with a banner saying: “Trump’s Punting on 2nd Debate.”
The plot instantly made headline news, with fans looking up to the skies in anticipation of the plane flying overhead. However, due to weather concerns the plan had to be scrapped, although Harris still managed to get her message across.
There is no stated deadline for Trump to respond to the invitation from CNN, although both candidates would need substantial time to prepare. Trump has already participated in two debates after previously going head-to-head with current President Joe Biden, but CNN has requested a response.
“Both Vice President Harris and former President Trump received an invitation to participate in a CNN debate this fall as we believe the American people would benefit from a second debate between the two candidates for President of the United States,” the network said in a statement. “We look forward to receiving a response from both campaigns so the American public can hear more from these candidates as they make their final decision.”