When Donald Trump mused about taking kids for a ride in his helicopter at the Iowa State Fair, fair officials had a disappointing response: nope.
That didn't stop the Republican presidential candidate from coordinating a flying excursion at a nearby athletic field.
Before heading to the fair Saturday, a customary campaign stop for presidential candidates, the business mogul made a short speech and then gave a handful of children toting Trump campaign signs a lift. Some journalists hopped on the lavish helicopter, too.
Meanwhile, other 2016 contenders made the rounds at the fair, too. Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders spent his time stumping at the Des Moines Register's political soapbox. The independent senator from Vermont with populist and socialist leanings took a jab at Trump's over-the-top entrance, cracking up a crowd of hundreds.
"There's Donald Trump. What can we do?" Sanders quipped. "I apologize. We left the helicopter at home. It's in the garage. We forgot to bring it."
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton spent her time at the fair taking in the sights, including a butter statue of a cow, and the food.
Who knew a pork chop on a stick was a thing? @HillaryClintonwas a fan! Only at the #IowaStateFair pic.twitter.com/iTO0bm6qtv— Kristina Schake (@kristina_schake) August 15, 2015
While Clinton was chowing down, Republican contender Rick Santorum was behind the grill. The 2012 Iowa Caucus winner made sure to Periscope his BBQ skills and season his Twitter feed with a Clinton email joke.
@ZekeJMiller I had a pork chop ready for @HillaryClinton I emailed her to come by, she must have deleted it. pic.twitter.com/YZGDWM8aOZ— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) August 15, 2015
Clinton reiterated to reporters at the fair that she did not send or receive classified emails through her private email server while she was secretary of state. The revelation of the account--and the subsequent release of hundreds of her private emails by government officials--has been a thorn in the candidate's side during the early days of the campaign.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press.