Trump's Pittsburgh Visit Sparks Mixed Reactions
Former US President Donald Trump surprised the crowd at the Acrisure Stadium when he attended the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets game. According to him, he received a very warm welcome. Not everyone was on his side, however, as some cheered while others expressed their disagreement in probably one of the most direct manners possible.
The Brutal Salute That Stole the Spotlight
A fan was seen wearing sunglasses, and he took it to its ultimate extent by extending two middle fingers as Trump waved from a private suite to the crowd. The arrogant gesture of the fan was captured in a video and saw its way into social media. In the video, one fan attempts to wrestle the person's arms down, but the moment was sealed on camera.
MASSIVE.
Entire Pittsburgh Steelers Stadium starts thunderously chanting “U-S-A!” as President Trump arrives 🇺🇸⚡️
pic.twitter.com/B4tHg7QhDU— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 21, 2024
Fans Gave Mixed Reactions
Although the ex-president flashed the crowd with confidence, chants of "USA" could be heard ringing throughout the stadium. However, at least one other fan was caught giving Trump the same derogatory gesture, and there is a photo and video of that, which surfaced later. Despite these kinds of reactions, Trump took to his Truth Social to thank Steelers fans for what he described as a "great reception."
Not the First Time
This was not the first trying situation that Trump has had while taking selfies with football fanatics. Last year, while attending a game of college football between Iowa and Iowa State, Trump received equal amounts of boos and cheers as well as some middle fingers. A pro-Trump account was accused of doctoring footage to remove the boos.
The Status of Sports in Campaigns for Elections
Sports events have been so politicized during the Trump campaign. But do sports events make for a good political podium?
While the "USA" chants reflect some support from fans, there are still others who feel that campaigns and politics should never be mixed with sports at all.
However, politicians such as Vice President Kamala Harris also make their appearances in high-profile events to draw attention. Harris being a politician who can relate with most audiences quite well knows how to navigate public appearances; she usually ensures that she does not get a hostile reception. It leaves room to wonder whether the usage of public events such as football games really helps or hinders political campaigns.
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Image Source: Multiple Agencies
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