President Trump is shown on the jumbotron before a college football game between Texas and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Sept. 26.
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)
President Trump announced Friday that he will not be attending Alabama’s pivotal college football matchup against Georgia in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday because of Hurricane Isaias.
“It is important to have our wonderful First Responders, Law Enforcement, and others, focused on that Storm, and in no way be thinking about the safety, or presence, of the President of the United States, ME!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Earlier in the week, Trump had told reporters that he still intended to travel to the game, despite the impending storm.
“I love Alabama. I got to go to a game like that,” he told reporters on Wednesday, but added that he would consider changing his plans “if there’s an emergency.”
There had been some speculation that the game might be postponed or relocated because of Isaias, but organizers have said it will be played as scheduled.
According to the most recent forecasts, Isaias will likely be downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reaches Tuscaloosa on Saturday. The heart of the storm is expected to have moved north of the city by the time the game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Instead of traveling to Alabama, Trump said he will hold a rally in Tennessee on Saturday in support of Republican candidates for House, Senate and governor in the state.