Will Donald Trump be at Alabama vs. Georgia? Why president chose not to attend 2026 SEC rivalry

Will Donald Trump be at Alabama vs. Georgia? Why president chose not to attend 2026 SEC rivalry originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

As Alabama and Georgia prepare for a huge SEC contest this week, President Donald Trump wanted to attend the matchup as a fan.

Instead, though, Trump will have to pass on the opportunity.

Trump announced that he would like to attend the contest between the Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, but the expected severe weather had other plans.

This would have been Trump's second college football game of the season after he attended Texas vs. Tennessee in Knoxville earlier this year. Trump has attended many college football games over the past decade, including the National Championship game between Alabama and Georgia in January of 2019.

Here's why Trump wanted to, but won't, attend Alabama vs. Georgia.

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Is Donald Trump attending Alabama-Georgia?

After announcing he wanted to attend Alabama vs. Georgia on Saturday night, Donald Trump will no longer be in attendance.

The White House announced that Trump decided not to fly down to Tuscaloosa for the game, instead deciding to avoid Hurricane Isaias.

NEW: President Trump will no longer be attending tomorrow’s Alabama-Georgia football game in Tuscaloosa, per the White House

— Julia Manchester (@JuliaManch) October 9, 2026

On social media, Trump confirmed this was to avoid the hurricane and allow the first responders all the resources necessary to prepare for the storm.

Trump did add he plans on visiting both teams later in the year.

TRUMP: Based on the fact that a huge Hurricane/Storm is coming, 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! Therefore, I will miss that potentially unbelievable Game, Alabama vs. Georgia but, hopefully, the Game will go on despite the weather! I will be visiting both of those Teams at a later date. Instead, I will go to Tennessee, where we have quickly called a Big Rally in order to get our fantastic Congressional Candidates, our Great Senator, Bill Hagerty, and a woman who will go down as one of the most impactful Governors in the State's History, Marsha Blackburn, elected!

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 9, 2026

Why did Donald Trump want to attend Alabama-Georgia?

Last week, Trump made the announcement that he would be attending the Alabama-Georgia game while on the campaign trail for the midterm elections.

Trump: I'll be here again. Next Saturday to watch a football game between Georgia and Alabama. They say it's going to be a good game. I would think so. https://t.co/LVHx9jbclf

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 2, 2026

"I love the people of Alabama… we love Alabama," Trump told the Alabama crowd. "We love it so much that I'll be here again next Saturday to watch a football game between Georgia and Alabama. They say it's gonna be a good game. I would think so."

Trump has a history of attending college football games, especially those involving either Alabama or Georgia.

The President is helping campaign for Republicans in governor races for both Alabama and Georgia, which likely has something to do with why he wanted to return to Tuscaloosa for this game.

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Did the hurricane impact Donald Trump's attendance?

It turns out the oncoming hurricane did ultimately result in Trump avoiding going to the game.

With Hurricane Isaias set to bring heavy rain and winds to Tuscaloosa for Georgia vs. Alabama, the White House announced that Trump will play it safe, instead opting to campaign in Tennessee.

If the hurricane is serious, Trump will likely be diverted to his presidential duties, or this could simply be for his own safety.

On Wednesday, Trump told reporters that "if there's a hurricane, I don't want to do anything" to take away from the first responders in charge of helping the area deal with the storm.