Devyani Chhetri,Emily AdamsGreenville News
COLUMBIA -- The crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium was dominated by cheers Saturday night as former President Donald Trump made his appearance at halftime at South Carolina's biggest matchup between the Gameco*cks and Tigers, though a mixture of boos also echoed through the stadium.
Members of the Clemson dance team were visibly excited on the sideline, jumping up and down and waving fervently at the former president.
Fans chanted “USA” as Trump and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster posed on the SEC logo at the 25-yard line closest to the Gameco*cks’ student section, and another cheer erupted as the pair exited the field. Trump paused at the tunnel to wave to the crowd before exiting. His appearance was brief, lasting only about a minute before the Clemson marching band took the field for its halftime performance.
Trump arrives for Clemson/Carolina game
Former President Donald Trump arrived at South Carolina's biggest matchup between the Gameco*cks and Tigers close to 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Supporters of President Trump waved signs as his motorcade drove by. Some of the signs included sayings like "Tigers for Trump," "Gameco*cks for Trump," "Trump 2024: Take Back America," and "Trump is a Gameco*cks fan."
The former president was seen sitting in the governor's box seat next to McMaster and other South Carolina dignitaries including U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. In another moment, Trump was seen smiling and acknowledging the crowd.
Nikki Haley, a Clemson alumna and trustee who was twice elected South Carolina governor, did not attend, according to the Associated Press.
Trump attends SC's biggest game of year
Rival football teams from the University of South Carolina and Clemson University faced off at Williams-Brice Stadium after the kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Gov. Henry McMaster, a member of Trump's S.C. leadership team, was by the former president's side.
Trump's campaign spokesman Stephen Cheung confirmed the former president's visit to South Carolina earlier last week.
“President Trump is excited to join Governor McMaster and so many from across the state to take in this wonderful game," Cheung said.
Trump greeted by cheers and boos
When Trump’s motorcade arrived, 48-year-old Steven Lyles, an avid Clemson Tigers fan, stood with a group of 30 supporters near the stadium’s entrance. “It's time to come out and support President Trump and all that he's done with the America First agenda,” Lyles said.
Meanwhile, a large group of onlookers stood on the other side of the road as well. As the motorcade passed, a cacophonous battle of cheers and boos ensued. Some onlookers, presumably in protest, made hand gestures at the cavalcade. Meanwhile, some chanted “Let’s go Brandon!”
Lyles was one of the supporters. The Clemson fan became an assured Trump supporter in 2016 and started a fan club called South Carolina Citizens for Trump.
“He has been the greatest president since President Ronald Reagan, and has far surpassed President Reagan's achievement,” Lyles said. It didn’t matter that other Republican challengers were still running for the presidential ticket. To him, Trump was the one to beat and the one who could successfully challenge Biden, he said.
'Gameco*cks for Trump.' Fans welcome former president with signs
Sports and politics melded together for several onlookers who stood outside the stadium in support of both Trump and the two teams.Lavale Degraffenreid, 28, was holding up a “Gameco*cks for Trump” sign when a college student passing by stopped right in front of him.“I’ll give you $20 for that sign,” the student told Degraffenfield.The Rock Hill native and a realtor by trade just smiled. “I’ve had hundreds ask me for this sign.”Though Degraffenfield was a Carolina fan, he had mainly come to the game to support Trump.“I'm a strong believer in God and (Trump) has a strong faith in God,” the realtor said. “He sees people as people they are. He doesn't see you as a Latino or Black or white. He sees you as an American.”
Trump receives a mixed reception in Columbia
As tens of thousands of Gameco*ck and Tiger fans gathered around the stadium on Saturday afternoon, more than a half-dozen electronic billboards around the capital city of Columbia boasted a message noting Trump's 2020 election loss and his pending legal cases: “You lost. You're guilty. Welcome to Columbia, Donald.” Some vendors around the venue, meanwhile, hawked Trump-related merchandise, including “Trump 2020” flags, from the previous election cycle.
Hours before kickoff, Trump's campaign announced that he had been endorsed by “more South Carolina legislators than all opposing candidates combined,” including new backing from six state lawmakers who had previously supported U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, before the South Carolinian ended his presidential bid earlier this month.
Trump's standing in the 2024 presidential race
Trump is the current frontrunner for the GOP's presidential ticket in South Carolina and holds more than a 30 percentage point lead from the rest of the primary field. A recent Winthrop poll showed Trump's hold over the state's Republican base was unwavering and 52% polled supported his candidacy. Meanwhile, former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, who ranked second in the polls, was popular among 17%, adding fuel to questions of whether the base is ready for a Trump alternative. These doubts were also a key facet of Sen. Tim Scott's dramatic departure from the race.
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Three months away from the state primary on Feb. 24 amidst a narrower field, the former president's foray into a football-hungry melee of fans and tailgaters may very well be an attempt to achieve a sense of cultural relevance most presidential candidates seek on the campaign trail.
South Carolina Democratic Party Spokesperson Alyssa Bradley lambasted Trump's campaign ahead of his visit.
“This Palmetto Bowl photo op reeks of desperation — for a candidate who keeps proclaiming the primary over, Donald Trump keeps campaigning like he might have something to lose," Bradley said. "Here’s to hoping no one on the field fumbles as badly as Donald Trump is fumbling his campaign here in South Carolina.”
Nevertheless, Trump's hold on state politics continues.
Trump's campaign announced he had received 30 new endorsem*nts Saturday. Greenville lawmaker and chair of the influential House Ways and Means Committee Bruce Bannister, who was supporting Scott in his presidential campaign, turned to Trump after the junior senator dropped out of the race.
“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,” Bannister said in a press statement. “He is a proven leader who will turn around the economy, protect our border and make America energy independent once again.”
Trump's history with South Carolina football teams
The last time Trump had his name attached to a South Carolina-based football team was in 2016 and 2018 when the Clemson Tigers visited the White House after winning the College Football Playoff national championships.
Trump's appearance in Columbia comes two days before Haley heads to Bluffton for a town hall. His previous visits to South Carolina have amassed thousands of supporters who often camped outside event premises nearly a day before his arrival. The volume of his events has often led to a debate about whether local governments should be the ones to recoup the cost of providing security.
SC GOP presidential primary poll: Haley surges ahead of DeSantis in SC GOP presidential primary poll. Trump still leads field.
In every speech on the campaign trail, undeterred by the indictments surrounding his campaign, Trump has indicated a repeat contest between him and President Joe Biden on economic and social policies. He has advocated for rescaling America's oil and natural gas production and cutting taxes. While visiting Summerville on Sept. 25, Trump said he would bring back severe immigration policies targeting undocumented immigrants. He has also cast aspersion at media reporting critical of his policies.
A recentNew York Times/Siena College pollshowed Trump led Biden in five of six key swing states, including the neighboring state of Georgia. The survey also showed a decline in Biden’s popularity among voters under 30— a key voting bloc that aided his victory in the 2020 presidential elections.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
Devyani Chhetri covers SC politics for the Greenville News. Reach her at @ChhetriDevyani on X or dchhetri@gannett.com
