Trump Falsely Calls Ossoff's 2020 Win Illegitimate as Polls Show Senator Up 9 Points

Q: What happens when a gridiron legend suddenly trades the football field for a high-profile flight on Air Force One?

It turns a routine campaign trip into a broader cultural and media moment. Todd Gurley’s decision to ride Air Force One with President Donald Trump immediately elevated attention around the Georgia stop, blending sports celebrity, regional identity and national politics into a single image. In practical terms, Gurley’s appearance gave the rally extra visibility beyond standard campaign coverage. He is one of the most recognizable football figures tied to Georgia, after rushing for 3,285 yards and 36 touchdowns at the University of Georgia, becoming the No. 10 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, making three Pro Bowls and winning NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 with the Rams. When someone with that profile steps off Air Force One, it creates a headline of its own. It also fits a pattern. Trump’s Georgia events have recently featured other football-linked names, including quarterback Gunner Stockton, while Herschel Walker has had a long public association with him. The effect is to connect political appearances with familiar sports figures who carry strong name recognition in a football-focused state. For Gurley, the flight does not change his football legacy, but it does place him in a more public civic spotlight. For the rally, it likely helped energize interest and widen the audience. For the public, it is a reminder that top athletes can become part of major national moments long after their playing careers peak.

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 17

At a Dalton, Georgia, rally for Republican Mike Collins, Trump revived false claims that Georgia’s 2020 election was fraudulent and said Senator Jon Ossoff “was never elected.”
Ossoff enters the November race with a consistent edge, and the latest polling cited in the report shows him leading Collins by 9 points.
Trump used the event to defend his record on the economy, immigration and foreign policy, including a renewed promise of $5,000 government checks if Republicans keep the House.
The rally drew about 1,200 people to Dalton municipal airport, started roughly 80 minutes late, and included a brief protest that security quickly removed.