Former President Donald Trump is set to make an appearance at the upcoming University of South Carolina vs. Clemson game on November 25, as reported by multiple sources familiar with the arrangements.
45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump to Attend the Palmetto Bowl in Columbia, South Carolina pic.twitter.com/Rw7XTsxAaI
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) November 21, 2023
While there hasn’t been an official announcement from either the university or the Trump campaign, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster expressed last week that he would welcome Trump to the rivalry game, extending a standing invitation to the former president.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, when questioned about Trump’s attendance during a press conference, shrugged off the news, emphasizing that his primary focus is on the game itself. Swinney quipped, “I don’t care who comes to the game. I just care about who’s playing in the game. Unless (South Carolina coach Shane Beamer) is going to put him in and throw him a halfback pass or something.”
It’s worth noting that Trump doesn’t have any official affiliations with either university or their football programs. However, during his presidency, the Clemson Tigers made two visits to the White House after securing the College Football Playoff national championship in 2016 and 2018.
The 2019 visit stirred controversy as images circulated of a fast-food spread served to the players. Trump asserted that he personally financed the buffet due to the government shutdown at that time.
Despite facing federal criminal charges, Trump remains a prominent figure in the 2024 Republican primary field, maintaining his status as a front-runner.