President Donald Trump is planning to attend the College Football Playoff championship game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide on Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This story was first reported by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Nick Ayers, a Georgia native who currently serves as Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff, and his wife Jamie Ayers are set to host the President. First Lady Melania Trump is also expected to attend the contest. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be under stepped-up security.
Atlanta Police spokesman Carlos Campos said the department is working with the Secret Service to ratchet up security for his arrival. It was not immediately known whether two other top Trump allies in Georgia – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Sen. David Perdue – will join them.
White House Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders opened today’s press briefing with a congratulatory message from the President.
“The President would like to start by congratulating two great teams from two great states, both in the heart of Trump country,” Sanders said. “We look forward to a fantastic national championship between Georgia and Alabama next week.”
Later in the briefing a question was asked regarding that statement. Here is the exchange below:
- Q: And one follow if I can, because you started talking football, so I’ll ask you about football. The two teams that are going to be in the national championship game come from the state of Georgia and the state of Alabama, as you know well. Obviously, Alabama just elected a Democratic senator. You said they’re right in the heart of Trump country. Does the President see the country as “Trump country” and the rest of the country?
- Sarah Huckabee Sanders: Look, I was certainly making a congratulations to two great football teams in the greatest conference in the country.
