Trump’s Viral Middle Finger Photo Sparks Debate Ahead Of Iowa Polls

A viral photo of Donald Trump showing the middle finger at a crowd during a college football game has been misattributed as targeting a Kamala Harris supporter. Taken on September 9, 2023, the image coincides with Harris gaining ground in Iowa, narrowing Trump’s lead in recent polls.

Trump's Viral Middle Finger Photo Sparks Debate Ahead Of Iowa Polls
by Shairin Panwar - September 21, 2024, 3:21 pm

In a viral photo circulating on social media, Donald Trump appears to show the middle finger to a person claimed to be a supporter of Kamala Harris, his opponent in the upcoming 2024 US election. However, the image is from September 2023, and there’s no evidence linking the individual to Harris.

The photo was captured during a college football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones on September 9, 2023. Trump, present in the VIP box, waved to the crowd, which responded with middle finger gestures, according to a Huffington Post report. The moment was highlighted on X by the podcast ‘No Lie,’ hosted by Tyler Cohen.

In Iowa, traditionally a Republican stronghold, recent polling indicates Harris is gaining traction. A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, released on September 15, shows Trump leading Harris by only four points, 47% to 43%. This marks a notable shift from earlier in 2024, when Trump held an 18-point advantage over President Biden, with Trump at 50% and Biden at 32%.

Historically, Iowa has swung between parties, having been won by Democratic Vice President Al Gore in 2000, Republican President George W. Bush in 2004, and Democrats Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.