Former President Donald Trump throws out autographed footballs at an Iowa State University fraternity house before the school's rivalry game on Sept. 9. C-SPAN
Former President Donald Trump was not an invited guest of Iowa State University for last month’s football game against the University of Iowa — he had a ticket — but angry fans still vented to school officials about the Trump “circus” trampling on their beloved rivalry.
In emails to Iowa State’s president and athletic director, obtained by Raw Story through an Iowa Open Records Law request, people railed about what baggage Trump might bring to the Sept. 9 event — his 91 felony allegations; a history of not paying bills for security; violent supporters; and a civil jury having found that he sexually abused a woman.
“What message are you telling women by allowing him to be at the game?” said an email to Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen. “What message does that tell men? I am a graduate of Iowa State University and am ashamed that the spectacle of Trump in Ames not only overshadows the game, but more importantly, it normalizes his unhinged behavior.
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“My only hope,” the emailer continued, “is that the true patriots and fans vigorously boo him out of the stadium and send him back to Florida.”
Said another email, to athletic director Jamie Pollard: “Forget Republican or Democrat, how can you allow this on your campus? Great message you're sending to the young women at ISU.”
The university redacted names of the emailers. Trump’s interest in the game, of course, was that Iowa is host to the nation’s traditional first electoral test with its caucuses. His campaign did not answer Raw Story’s requests for comment.
Trump watched the game with Matt Whitaker, a former Iowa football player who served as acting attorney general during Trump’s presidency.
Trump did not appear on the field during September’s game, as he did during an Iowa-Iowa State game in 2015 while campaigning for president. But Trump’s previous on-field appearance remained on the minds of some fans, who were confused about whether the university itself sanctioned Trump’s most recent visit.
“I was appalled to learn that he had been allowed to be on the field and mingle with the cheerleaders and fans prior to the game,” one emailer wrote before this year’s game. “I often wondered how many cheerleaders he groped in the process.”
One emailer to Wintersteen understood that nothing could stop Trump from attending the game, but the person threatened to hit the university financially if school administrators did anything more than let the former president in on the basis of his ticket.
“If his presence is in any way acknowledged in the stadium by the public address announcer, I will cease all financial support of Iowa State and Iowa State athletics,” it said. “This is not a debatable issue for me. I will not support any institution that appears to support Donald Trump.”
Another email said fans of both teams just wanted to watch football without Trump’s political theater.
“Where is their voice in this?” the email said. “I don't care how many cult followers he has, or what political pressure he exerts. He betrayed his constitutional oath over and over again …”
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Some feared the game would turn unsafe particularly for “college students, teenagers and children in attendance.”
“Followers of D. Trump who are extremists cannot control their behavior as proven by January 6, 2021,” they continued.
Another said Trump’s presence as “such a divisive political individual” would be a “recipe for trouble.”
The email said they’d be staying home with their kids.
Others expressed concern about the use of university resources and Trump’s history of not paying bills related to campaign appearances.
“Do we really have to allow DJT into the game Saturday??” an email said. “What a waste of security personnel, traffic control, etc. And the showcase game, perhaps THE showcase event in the state for the year, and it has to be denigrated to a political rally for a self-absorbed criminal??”
Said another email: “I wonder how much expense Iowa State University and the city of Ames will incur in providing security for candidates’ presence. My understanding from following political news is that Donald Trump's campaign is notorious for not paying the bills for expenses for services that local governments provide.”
Raw Story filed a public records request with the university and its police department for correspondence, bills and contracts related to school resource usage and expenses connected to Trump being at the game.
Ann Lelis, a paralegal in the Office of the General Counsel at Iowa State University, repeatedly denied the request made to the Iowa State University Police Department, claiming an exemption in the state’s public records law.
“Security-related information and records are confidential,” she wrote. “Even after the fact, providing this information would impact security going forward.”
The City of Ames, where Iowa State University is based, told Raw Story that six officers supported the Sept. 9 event, costing the department $1,234.91. The city did not provide any documents and emails related to Raw Story's public records request, citing the same exemption in the state’s public records law.
Public law enforcement records show that Iowa State University Police made 14 arrests in the stadium parking lot for alleged “criminal mischief” on the day of the game, but the arrests were “not affiliated with a political visitor or event,” Carrie Jacobs, assistant chief of police for Iowa State University, told Raw Story via email.
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A Des Moines Register story on Trump’s attendance at the game did not mention any incidents related to politics. It said Trump was booed and some people shouted obscenities, “but he drew far more eager and excited onlookers.”
The Associated Press reported that Trump stopped by a fraternity house and tossed autographed footballs into the crowd, garnering cheers. Others made profane gestures at his motorcade, and a prop plane with a banner reading “Where’s Melania?” flew over the stadium. Inflatable Trump and Anthony Fauci costumes were seen wearing masks and holding hands in the stadium parking lot.
Other candidates for the Republican presidential nomination were at the game, too: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Iowa won the game, 20-13.
Pollard, the Iowa State athletic director, responded to emails by saying, essentially, he’d rather have all of the politicians go away.
“Please understand anyone attending our games (including politicians) have to have tickets — Donald Trump included,” he wrote. “We can't discriminate against those with legitimate tickets. Although it makes things more challenging for all of us, there is not much we can do about it other than to plan for it. We certainly wish all the candidates would stay away from this game but that is not our call to make.”