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Staff at the Iowa State Fair told CNN that nothing is official
The state fair is a must-attend for presidential candidates
Donald Trump’s poll numbers may be soaring, but if he has his way next month at the Iowa State Fair, his campaign will be taking off in a different way.
The billionaire real estate mogul told The Daily Mail on Thursday that he is planning to bring his $7 million helicopter to the event so he can give free rides to children.
“We’re going to fly it out to Iowa and I’m going to have it there,” he told the outlet in his Manhattan office.
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The helicopter, a Sikorsky that is one of three that he owns, seats 12 people comfortably, including the pilot, the Mail reported.
But staff at the Iowa State Fair, the first-in-the-nation caucus state’s signature summer event, told CNN that nothing is official.
“That is not true. I just checked with our security, and there’s no way that we could land a helicopter and/or give rides here at the Iowa State Fair,” Marketing Director Mindy Williamson said.
Williamson, however, said there is a possibility Trump could give rides outside of the fairgrounds.
The state fair is a must-attend for presidential candidates. Candidates from both sides of the aisle flock to the fair, speaking at the Des Moines Register’s Soapbox, flipping pork chops at the National Pork Producers Council’s tent, eating fried food on a stick or taking a close-up look at the Butter Cow (a life-size cow carved out of butter).
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Iowans are frequently given up-close access to candidates, and the State Fair boasts attendance of more than 1 million people.
CNN’s Eric Bradner contributed to this report.