Trump Travels to Iowa to Attend Iowa–Iowa State Football Game

Surrounded by campaign staff and members of the U.S. Secret Service, former President Donald Trump (C) waves to supporters as he visits the Iowa Pork Producers Tent at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 12, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump flipped burgers and threw footballs with his supporters before attending the Iowa–Iowa State college football game on Sept. 9.

Before the annual Cy–Hawk matchup between Iowa State University and the University of Iowa in Ames, President Trump visited The Cyclones’ Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He then posed for photos with members of the fraternity house.

Outside the fraternity house, President Trump waved to a huge crowd, who serenaded the former president with chants of “Go Trump.”

President Trump also threw the crowds several footballs, at least one of which he had autographed. He also flipped hamburgers on the grill.

“This is some turnout. I guess the youth likes Trump,” he told the Right Side Broadcasting Network over the cheers of students.

“We love Iowa,” the former president continued. “We just left South Dakota last night. It was an amazing evening. We got a wonderful endorsement, as you know from the governor, and we’re here and this reception has been incredible.”

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On Sept. 8, at a Republican rally in Rapid City, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem endorsed President Trump for his 2024 bid for the White House. In addition to Ms. Noem, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster have endorsed the former president.

At the rally, President Trump delivered a speech, telling a sold-out crowd of about 7,000 people that Congress needs to act now on the United States’ dire illegal immigrant crisis.

“Tonight, I’m calling on congressional Republicans to ban Joe Biden from using a single tax dollar—no taxpayer money—to release or resettle illegal aliens into the United States,” the former president said at the rally.

When President Trump arrived at Jack Trice Stadium for the football game, he was greeted by another huge crowd, with many breaking into chants of “USA.”

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem welcomes former President and 2024 Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump to the stage during the South Dakota Republican Party's Monumental Leaders rally at the Ice Arena at the Monument in Rapid City, S.D., on Sept. 8, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

2024 Race

Also at the game was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, a picture of himself and Gov. Kim Reynolds in the stands.

“Had a great time at the Cy–Hawk game with Gov. [Kim Reynolds],” Mr. DeSantis wrote on X. “Iowa is lucky to have such a strong governor who never backs down from doing what’s right.”

Ms. Reynolds hasn’t endorsed a candidate; in August, she told Fox News in an interview, “I’m remaining neutral, but I don’t just want to rule it out down the road.”

Another Republican presidential candidate, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, posted a video of him at the football game on X.

“Here we are at this great in-state rivalry,” Mr. Burgum said. “Stadium packed, you can hear the cheering behind here.”

Mr. Burgum added: “We had a great day today tailgating, talking with people about the important matters of this country. They’re concerned about inflation. They’re concerned about our border and immigration and where we’re going as a country.”

On Jan. 15, 2024, Iowa is scheduled to hold the first-in-the-nation Republican presidential caucus.

President Trump holds a commanding lead in the latest Iowa poll, conducted by Civiqs in conjunction with Iowa State University. The poll surveyed 434 likely Republican Iowa Caucus attendees from Sept. 2 to Sept. 7.

President Trump led with 51 percent of support, followed by Mr. DeSantis with 14 percent, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley with 10 percent, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy with 9 percent.

“The race right now is clearly President Trump, a small second tier of four candidates—DeSantis, Haley, Ramaswamy, and [Sen. Tim] Scott—and then a lot of candidates without much support at all. Trump’s lead is strong, but it also might be something of a ceiling because most Iowans have strong opinions about him,” David Peterson, a political science professor at Iowa State University, said in a statement accompanying the poll.

Mr. Peterson said former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Vice President Mike Pence “are in terrible shape.”

“Christie isn’t a surprise since his campaign was always intended to make a lot of Republicans unhappy,” Mr. Peterson said. “Pence, however, is a bit surprising. He only has around 5 [percent] of the respondents who are even considering his candidacy but is actively opposed by over 20 [percent] of likely caucusgoers.”