During Chelsea FC’s victory celebration at the FIFA Club World Cup, an unexpected and awkward moment involving former U.S. President Donald Trump took center stage. The event took place on Sunday, July 13, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0. After the match, Trump, along with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, presented the trophy to the team. However, rather than stepping aside after the presentation, Trump stood among the players during their celebratory moment, causing confusion and discomfort.
Lip reading expert Nicola Hickling, speaking on behalf of OLBG, analyzed the awkward interaction. According to her, Chelsea star Cole Palmer was visibly confused and asked someone to “move him this way,” referring to Trump. Hickling suggested that Trump appeared eager to hold the trophy with team captain Reece James, to which James reportedly replied, “I got this.” In another exchange, James jokingly noted to goalkeeper Robert Sanchez that the trophy was “actually heavy.”
As the team tried to coordinate the celebration, Trump reportedly said to Sanchez, “What? Let’s leave,” prompting Sanchez to direct everyone with a calming gesture and the words, “On the count of three, come on, come on.” The entire situation came off as disorganized and was described by viewers as “absolutely embarrassing.” Palmer later commented that he knew Trump would be present but hadn’t expected him to join the team on the stage during the actual lifting of the trophy.
Adding to the awkwardness, The Guardian noted that Trump was mocked by the crowd during the game when he appeared on the stadium’s video boards. His presence, intended as a show of support, ended up drawing ridicule and discomfort from both players and spectators alike. The moment seemed less about celebration and more about confusion and forced participation.
Body language expert Darren Stanton described Trump’s demeanor as disingenuous. He labeled Trump’s smile as a “masking smile” and compared his movements to that of “a dad at a wedding,” trying to fit in but clearly out of his element. Stanton concluded that Trump’s attempts to join the celebration were poorly executed and lacked authenticity, highlighting the overall unease of the moment.
