When former President Donald Trump was announced at the Alabama Crimson Tide’s home matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs last Saturday, the crowd of more than 100,000 college football fans erupted into cheers and chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A.”
However, just one month before the big game, Trump was not scheduled to make it to Tuscaloosa.
“About a month out from the Georgia game, he said he wasn’t going to be able to make it, and then about two weeks out from the Georgia game, he called and said ‘I’m in. Let’s get it done,” Ric Mayers, the Alabama entrepreneur who invited Trump to Tuscaloosa, told Yellowhammer News. “It was a lot of coordinating with the University, who were great to work with, the Secret Service, and, of course, members of the Republican Party.”
Mayers first got acquainted with the 2024 Republican presidential nominee at an event at Mar-a-Lago — Trump’s palatial residence in Palm Beach, Florida — for former Congressman Mo Brooks, the then-candidate for the Republican nomination to take retiring Senator Richard Shelby’s seat in the United States Senate. However, Trump was not the most important person Mayers met that day — that distinction belongs to his wife, Chloé. The couple returned to Mar-a-Lago for their wedding on April 28, 2023, and Trump made an appearance.
Not surprisingly, it was on another trip this past May to the former president’s Palm Beach home that Mayers first pitched the idea for Trump to attend the Alabama v. Georgia football game.
“I was talking to Barron [Trump], and I told Barron, ‘Hey, I think it’d be a good idea to have the President come to the Alabama – Georgia game this year. It’s going to be huge. It’s the biggest game of the year,’ and he said ‘Well, he’s got a really busy schedule, but let’s see. That’s not a bad idea,’” Mayers said.
At around midnight, Mayers was in the Mar-a-Lago Club’s bar with several friends when the former president walked in and stayed to talk with the group for roughly an hour.
“I told him, ‘Man, you’ve got to come to the Alabama – Georgia game. It’s going to be huge.’ He said, ‘Oh, really?’ I said, ‘Yeah, it’s going to be massive. I mean, you’re going to have 100,000 people screaming your name,’ and he said ‘Well, let’s see how that works and how I’m doing in the polls in Georgia. That’s kind of going to be the determining factor.’”
Planning the Visit
When the Trump team began planning the GOP nominee’s attendance at the game, security was a big concern. With the July shooting at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania that left blood streaming down his face and the second attempt on his life at one of his Florida golf clubs last month top of mind, securing a campus flooded with well over 100,000 people was a serious undertaking.
Trump initially wanted a tour of the University of Alabama’s campus and asked about making a visit to fraternity houses, among other requests to interact with students and fans, Mayers said. However, due to security concerns, those plans were quickly set aside. Trump also reportedly wanted to walk on the newly-named Saban Field to better connect with fans, but that request was denied by Southeastern Conference (SEC) officials.
When Trump arrived in his motorcade shortly after kickoff, he took a moment to toss Crimson Tide-branded boxes of chicken fingers and popcorn to fans gathered around a concession stand before making his way to the box. There, Alabama’s U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, along with Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl and U.S. Senator Steve Daines of Montana, were pulled away to greet the former president.
A Warm Welcome
“The Alabama Republican Party was incredibly excited to welcome Donald Trump back to the State of Alabama. We all know that the people of Alabama and Donald Trump have a special relationship, and that was on full show during the Alabama — Georgia game. I got a chance to speak with the President about the Party’s work and what we’re doing to help in neighboring swing states. This is a critical election, and the Alabama Republican Party is proud to be working side-by-side with the Trump campaign to make sure we win this November,” Wahl told Yellowhammer News.
“The atmosphere in the box was incredible, and you could feel the stadium shake when he was introduced to the crowd. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for everyone, it’s all been a process, and I want to thank all those who helped make it happen,” Wahl continued.
Trump’s appreciation for the state GOP’s support was palpable, Chairman Wahl said, noting that Trump grabbed him by the shoulders upon seeing him. Wahl also said that, while Trump would not disclose which team he was pulling for, one guest was able to get him to sign “Roll Tide” on a “Make America Great Again” hat with his famously bold, illegible signature.
“It’s hard to imagine any Republican would be against a team whose color is red and whose mascot is an elephant,” Chairman Wahl said with a laugh.
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and her husband Wesley watched the game with Trump in the box.
“Saturday was a truly legendary installment in the lore of Bryant-Denny Stadium. We witnessed one of the greatest games in college football history, and the crowd’s response likely registered on the Richter scale when they greeted President Trump,” Britt told Yellowhammer News.
One day prior, Britt and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) hosted a fundraiser for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) that brought high-profile donors and fans of football to Tuscaloosa in support of swing-state GOP candidates.
“I’m proud to say that event raised $2 million,” Britt said. “I’ll continue to work tirelessly to send President Trump back to the White House and secure a Republican-controlled Senate and House, so we can restore commonsense policies that put American families first.”
Inside the Box
Trump greeted and took photos with everyone in the box, but he also got some time to sit and watch the game. Mayers said that the former president knew the names and statistics of players on both teams very well, including those of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and wide receiver Ryan Williams.
The heat in the box was high due to the bulletproof glass blocking airflow and the number of guests in the room, Mayers remembered. He estimates that fifty people were consistently in the space intended for thirty. Guests included musicians Hank Williams, Jr. and Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daly, MMA fighter Colby Covington, members of Congress, Alabama state senators, and other dignitaries. Even Alabama men’s basketball coach Nate Oats made a brief appearance and met Trump, Mayers recalled.
There was an attempt made to pump air inside the box, but that was of little help. Despite the heat, Mayers’ wife, Chloé, was a cheerful hostess, and his father, Mac Mayers, whom Trump calls “Pops,” enjoyed getting to catch up with the former president. After about an hour, it was time for Trump to leave.
“I can tell you one thing,” Mayers recalled Trump saying, “Harris ain’t getting a reception like no matter where she goes.”
Riley McArdle is a contributor for Yellowhammer News. He currently serves as Chairman of The University of Alabama College Republicans and Vice Chairman of the College Republican Federation of Alabama. You can contact him at [email protected].
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.