The annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, got political with a special message for Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump.
"America is great! Trump is disgusting. Anybody but Trump," skywriters wrote above the procession, which precedes the Rose Bowl college football game, this morning.
"Fascist dictator," read another message, and "Iowans dump trump."
You can hear my utter pride in America as the jets paint the sky.Then utter horror.Then utter joy #Trump #RoseParade pic.twitter.com/ezpVJx25xh— Carlos Whittaker (@loswhit) January 1, 2016
Stan Pate, a real estate developer from Alabama, took responsibility for the strongly worded aerial protest. "Hate is not a policy," Pate, who has donated to the presidential campaign of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), told local Fox affiliate WBRC. These other people that are running for president have the country’s best interest in mind. Trump only has his interest in mind."
Pate told CBS news that his campaign against the New York businessman was only beginning. "Donald Trump is embarrassing to the country, and he's embarrassing to me," he added.
Spectators were expected to swell to more than 700,000 at the parade, which served as a kick-off to the 102nd Rose Bowl game between Iowa and Stanford.
Anybody But Trump #RoseParade pic.twitter.com/1O9w9W6iZt— Realitygal (@realitygal) January 1, 2016
"Anybody but Trump" skywriting stole the show at the Rose Parade. #RoseParade #trump pic.twitter.com/grqULpxs4f— Julia Davis (@juliakc1117) January 1, 2016
The Iowa caucuses, the first time voters will officially weigh in on the presidential candidates, take place on Feb. 1. The last two Republican winners of the caucuses were Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee, respectively, neither of whom went on to win the presidential nomination.