Trump cancels Alabama-Georgia trip as Hurricane Isaias nears
President Trump said he will not attend Saturday's Alabama-Georgia football game in Tuscaloosa because Hurricane Isaias is approaching the Gulf Coast. He said emergency responders should concentrate on the storm instead of his visit, though he hopes the game will still be played. Trump still plans to go to Clarksville, Tennessee, for a rally supporting Republican candidates.
Trump had planned to attend the Georgia-Alabama matchup in Tuscaloosa, which was under a tropical storm warning though not then projected to be in the storm’s center. The visit would have been his second SEC game in roughly a month, after traveling to Knoxville for Texas-Tennessee.
He said he still intends to hold a Saturday rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, supporting Republican congressional candidates, Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn. He also said he hopes the football game proceeds and that he will see both teams later.
The cancellation may ease logistical demands on Gulf Coast emergency personnel as the storm nears, potentially letting local responders focus on public safety. Football fans, Tuscaloosa businesses, and event staff could face uncertainty if the game proceeds under weather warnings. Trump’s planned Tennessee rally may keep political attention on Republican campaigns, affecting voters and local officials there. The episode could show how severe weather and campaign schedules intersect, with safety messaging and political travel competing for public attention.