Trump Greeted With Cheers & Boos At Iowa Football Game In Ames

Former President Donald Trump was welcomed by chants of his supporters – and boos from his detractors – in Ames, Iowa, while attending the 2023 Cy-Hawk football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday.

As they waited for the former president to come out of his private suite, where he watched the annual game between the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, a group of Cyclone and Hawkeye fans briefly joined his supporters in chanting, “Trump! Trump! Trump.”

The cheering from the crowd to get Trump’s attention at one point overshadowed the game. But the former president was also audibly booed by some spectators.

A prop plane flying over the stadium carrying a banner that read, “Where’s Melania?”

Before emerging from his suite to wave at the fans shouting his name, Trump mingled with the influential Republican donor Gary Kirke inside the suite. During his visit to the early primary state, Trump spent time with members of the Alpha Gamma Ro fraternity at Iowa State University, autographing photos and footballs.

This game is often seen as a campaign stop for prospective GOP presidential candidates, and Trump also attended this game in 2015.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) were also present at the game, as were entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. DeSantis watched the game alongside Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and took photos with Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa). But Reynolds reportedly had no interaction with Trump.

Trump’s visit to the stadium came after a rally in South Dakota with Gov. Kristi Noem (R), who endorsed the former president for 2024 and is seen as a potential running mate. Trump is currently leading the Republican primary field by a significant margin.