Former President Donald Trump made a highly anticipated appearance at Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina on Saturday to watch the Palmetto Bowl college football game between the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks and Clemson University's Tigers. As the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential primary, Trump's presence drew a mix of boos and cheers from the crowd.

South Carolina, a state where Trump previously secured a 12-point victory over President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, remains a stronghold of support for the former president. Trump has consistently maintained a commanding lead in polls over other GOP contenders, including former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who did not attend the annual rivalry football game.

Trump's presence at the game was at the invitation of Governor Henry McMaster, who succeeded Haley after she was appointed as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in 2017. Upon his arrival at the stadium, Trump's black SUV was met with audible boos from some members of the crowd, as captured in video clips shared on social media.

In a video posted by Beth Hoole, a director for local station WHNS, the crowd's jeers can be heard roughly 10 seconds into the minute-long clip. Journalist Cody Alcorn reshared the video on X and referred to the reception as an "explicit welcome" for Trump.

Despite the mixed reaction, chants of "We Want Trump" and "USA" broke out whenever the former president appeared on the stadium's jumbotron, indicating a subset of strong support within the crowd. One video shared by Simon Ateba, Chief White House Correspondent at Today News Africa, showcased the crowd inside the stadium enthusiastically cheering and clapping for Trump.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump, dismissed the boos, stating that the videos circulating on social media provide ample evidence of the warm and rousing welcome the former president received. Cheung urged skeptics to witness the "electric Trump effect" firsthand by attending an event in South Carolina.

Trump's visit to South Carolina comes at a crucial time, as potential updates regarding his criminal and civil trials could potentially impact his 2024 presidential campaign. It remains to be seen how these legal developments will influence his political standing moving forward.

During halftime of the USC-Clemson football game, Trump took the field alongside Governor McMaster. A video shared by Caitlin Byrd, a reporter for local outlet The Post and Courier, captured the mixed reaction of cheers and boos as Trump and McMaster made their brief appearance. The boos were audible, but there were also words of affection from someone in the crowd expressing their love for the former president.

As the 2024 presidential race continues to unfold, Trump's reception in South Carolina serves as a reminder of the strong polarization that persists within the country's political landscape.