Fact Check: Did Trump say he will attend the Texas-Tennessee game with Peyton Manning?
WASHINGTON, DC: A viral social media post claims President Donald Trump will attend Saturday’s Texas-Tennessee football game with former NFL star Peyton Manning. The post appears to show a screenshot from Trump’s Truth Social account and also claims that Trump expects Tennessee to beat Texas. Let's fact-check the claim.
Claim: Trump will attend Texas-Tennessee football game with Peyton Manning
President Donald Trump via Truth social. pic.twitter.com/XRJzyXUBTo
— The Average Vols Fan (@BasedVols) September 23, 2026
Trump is slated to attend the game on Saturday, September 26. His planned appearance has also sparked several rumors online. One viral social media post appears to show a screenshot of a statement from Trump’s Truth Social account.
The alleged post reads, “I will be attending the ‘Battle of UT’ down in the beautiful city of Knoxville, Tennessee. I have always been a huge fan of Neyland Stadium, the loudest and greatest stadium in the world, named after the greatest military general of all time, Robert Neyland.”
The post continues, “I will be accompanied by the great Peyton Manning, and we will watch his ‘not as good’ nephew. The fake (news) media has ranked Texas 1, but I think Faizon and the Vols will win Biggly!”
The alleged post ends with Trump’s commonly used closing statement, “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Fact Check: False; viral image is a fabricated screenshot
The claim is false. The viral image is a fabricated screenshot that falsely presents a statement as a post from Trump’s Truth Social account.
Reports from Heavy and Yahoo Sports identified the screenshot as manufactured and found no authentic Trump post matching the wording shown in the image.
The University of Tennessee has also issued game-day guidance confirming Trump's expected attendance and warning fans about increased security measures.
Peyton Manning is also expected to be in Knoxville for the game, but there is no evidence that Trump said he would attend the game with Manning. Manning is scheduled to appear on Pat McAfee's kicking contest during ESPN's coverage and is expected to watch his nephew, Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
The screenshot also falsely attributes comments to Trump about Tennessee defeating Texas, Arch Manning, and Faizon Robinson.
The real event does involve several of the people and details mentioned in the post, which may make the fabricated screenshot appear convincing. ESPN's College GameDay will also be in Knoxville, while actor Johnny Knoxville is scheduled to serve as the show's celebrity guest picker.
The post therefore combines real details about Trump's planned attendance and Peyton Manning's presence with invented comments and wording. There is no evidence that Trump published the statement shown in the viral screenshot.
