College football tailgaters at several universities were caught off guard this past Saturday when planes carrying political banners flew over their parking lots and stadiums. The stunt, orchestrated by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), was aimed at drawing attention to the controversial “Project 2025,” a conservative policy agenda linked to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance.
As fans prepared for the second week of the 2024 college football season, the DNC commissioned planes to fly over key university stadiums, including the University of Michigan’s Michigan Stadium and Penn State’s Beaver Stadium. A plane was also scheduled to fly over the University of Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium later in the day, though poor weather grounded a fourth plane set for the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium.
Each plane carried a banner with a tailored message for the university it flew over, such as “Penn St: Beat Trump, Sack Project 2025” and “Jump Around! Beat Trump + Project 2025.” These messages tied Trump and Vance to “Project 2025,” a set of conservative policy proposals published by the Heritage Foundation in 2023. The project outlines a sweeping agenda for the next Republican president, including potential nationwide abortion bans, increased government surveillance, and tax cuts for billionaires.
DNC Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman emphasized the importance of reaching voters in swing states by targeting college football fans. “It’s college football Saturday, and fans are ready to sack the competition and beat Project 2025, which would give Trump unprecedented power,” Rahman said. “The contrast in this election couldn’t be clearer, and we have a winning playbook: Tackle Project 2025, make a goal-line stand, and drive 99 yards the other way towards a more just and equal America for all.”
“Project 2025” has become a focal point for the Harris campaign, with several Democratic National Convention speakers criticizing its contents. Among the critics was comedian and DNC speaker Kenan Thompson, who humorously warned voters about the rights they could lose under the proposed agenda, likening it to a step “right back to the Stone Age.”
In response to the DNC’s focus on “Project 2025,” Trump dismissed the initiative, telling Fox News he had “no idea” about the project and claiming it was merely a group of people drawing up “very conservative values.”
As the campaign season intensifies, the DNC’s strategic use of college football events highlights the importance of voter outreach in swing states, where the outcome of the 2024 election could be decided.
