Former President Donald Trump’s appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday, July 13, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is drawing plenty of attention—but not necessarily for the match itself.
Trump attended the final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, where Chelsea secured a convincing 3–0 victory, led by standout performances from Cole Palmer and new signing João Pedro. A red card for PSG’s João Neves in the second half left the French side with little chance to mount a comeback.
The post-match trophy ceremony, however, became a talking point across social media.
Trump joined FIFA president Gianni Infantino on stage to present the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James. While Infantino stepped aside after the handoff—following the usual practice of allowing the players to celebrate—Trump remained on stage, creating an unexpected and somewhat awkward moment.
Video clips circulating online show some Chelsea players appearing unsure of how to proceed. At one point, Cole Palmer appeared to ask James what was happening, while James was reportedly heard asking Trump if he planned to step aside. According to Palmer, “I knew he was going to be there, but I didn’t expect him to be standing right where we’d lift the trophy.”
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