In Pennsylvania, some people are trying to influence potential voters of President Donald Trump by betting on the Philadelphia Eagles’ rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys, who have a “Trump [Loves] Jerry Jones & the Cowboys” banner circulating around Philadelphia.
This plane is currently circling Philadelphia with a banner that reads “TRUMP pic.twitter.com/jSWaNnqJym.
– Travis Hughes (@_travishughes) November 3, 2020
Is this the best political advertisement in Philadelphia’s history?
(someone flies a plane around Philly that says: Trump loves the cowboys https://t.co/UaQYfQjo71£)ð¤
– Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) November 3, 2020
The timing of the sign couldn’t be better to appeal to football fans in Pennsylvania, as the Eagles defeated the Cowboys on Sunday with a 23-9 win, and the Cowboys will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
According to The Philly Voice, a group called Rural America 2020 has taken credit for the shield.
Best photo of our
TRUMP â¥ï¸S JERRY JONES & THE COWBOYS fly over Philadelphia today. #PhillyVote #Vote for pic.twitter.com/LYPik4Unx7
– Rural America 2020 (@RuralUSA2020) November 3, 2020
While the sign seems to be mainly a stupid plan to mock Trump-supporting Eagles/Steelers fans and convince them to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden instead of risking their loyalty to the Birds or Steelers, there are some aspects of truth about the sign. According to CBS Sports, the president had the opportunity to buy the Texas team for $50 million in 1984. The Cowboys are now estimated to be worth $4.8 billion. At that time he bought the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League for an estimated $8-9 million, the New York Times reported.
Trump told The Times in 1984 that he did not believe that buying the Cowboys would be profitable. “I could have bought an NFL club for $40 million or $50 million, but it is established, and you would only see it move sideways. Not enough to get there,” he said.
He also expressed skepticism about the Dallas team. “I feel sorry for the poor guy who’s going to buy the Dallas Cowboys. It’s a no-win situation for him because if he wins, so what, they’ve won over the years and if he loses, which is likely because they have problems, he’ll be known in the world as a loser,” he told The Times.
Aside from almost buying the Cowboys, Trump has publicly said that he has been in contact with Jones since he took office. In 2017, he said he had spoken to him about players who kneel down during the national anthem as a form of protest. Trump wrote that Jones would “bench players who do not respect our flag.
Yesterday he spoke with Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry is a winner who knows how to get things done. The players will stand for country!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2017
A big greeting to Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who will throw players who do not respect our flag into the BENCH: “Stand for Anthem or sit for game!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2017
In September, USA Today reported that Jones softened his stance and urged fans to respect the team’s differing opinions as more players expressed their views on social issues. “The flag is a symbol of [the best of America]. We also recognize the times we are in and the need for social justice,” he said. “There will be no fears between me and the players. And no fears between me and the fans.
According to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jones showed support for Trump after discussing the president’s positive COVID-19 diagnosis during a radio appearance in early October. “No one in the world is better equipped to handle this COVID than the office of President of the United States,” he said. “I am very confident that he will be able to continue to govern, and I am really, really, I am sure he foresaw this when he knew him. He is the hardest worker you have ever seen. Knowing him as I do, he will be able to carry on right away and hopefully not miss anything.
Rural America 2020 and the press contacts for the Trump campaign did not respond in a timely manner to the email requests for comments on the publication sent to Washington Newsday.
