Donald Trump Trolled With Debate Banner Over College Football Game

Democrats have mocked Donald Trump by flying a banner at a college football game suggesting he lost September’s presidential debate.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein said Georgia Democrats planned to display an airplane banner above Sanford Stadium on Saturday, where the Georgia Bulldogs defeated Alabama’s Auburn Tigers 31-13.
Bluestein later posted an “update from the game” onto X, formerly Twitter, which revealed a banner flying in the skies reading “Trump: 1 debate loss, 0 SEC championships.”
Newsweek has contacted Trump’s office for comment via email.
Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris took part in possibly their only presidential debate on September 10. While the former president claims he won the ABC-moderated event, numerous snap polls and surveys said viewers believe the vice president came out on top.
Harris said she had accepted the terms for another debate to be hosted by CNN on October 23. During a September 21 rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, Trump said it’s “too late” to hold another debate as early voting for the 2024 election has begun in some states.
“She’s done one debate, I’ve done two. It’s too late to do another, I’d love to in many ways, but it’s too late, the voting is cast, the voters are out there,” Trump said.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has sponsored banners to be flown over multiple college football games in recent weeks targeting Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.
They include linking the pair to Project 2025—a set of policy proposals from the The Heritage Foundation on how a future conservative administration could overhaul the U.S. government.
A banner which flew over the Camp Randall Stadium at the University of Wisconsin read “Jump Around! Beat Trump + Project 2025.”
The banner referenced hip-hop group House of Pain’s 1992 song “Jump Around,” which is played between the third and fourth quarters at University of Wisconsin football games.
Another banner reading “Michigan: JD Vance <3 Ohio State + Project 2025” flew over the Michigan Stadium in early September.
Trump and his campaign team have long denied they are connected to or have any association with Project 2025.
“These banners carry a message that resonates with fans, and reminds them that the most important contest is still to come in November,” DNC deputy communications director Abhi Rahman said in a September statement.
“The contrast in this election couldn’t be clearer, and we have a winning playbook: sack Project 2025, make a goal line stand, and drive 99 yards the other way towards a more just and equal America for all.”
Harris’ campaign also hired a plane to fly a banner with the words “Trump’s Punting on 2nd Debate” over Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on September 28.
Trump was at the stadium that day to watch the game between the Bulldogs and Alabama’s Crimson Tide.
The banner did not end up being flown as the plane was not cleared to fly due to weather concerns.