Trump’s Football Joke Sparks NFL Fan Tensions
Donald Trump found himself in hot water again, this time with NFL fans. After making a controversial quip at the FIFA Club World Cup Final in New York.
Trump, accompanied by Melania Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, watched Chelsea defeat PSG 3-0 in a stunning upset. But the post-match moment that drew the most attention wasn’t Cole Palmer’s brilliance or the trophy presentation. It was Trump joking about renaming “soccer” to “football” by executive order.
During a live DAZN interview, reporter Emily Austin suggested to Trump:
“What if we made an executive order that we can only say football from now on?”
Trump laughed and replied,
“I think we could do that, I think I could do that.”
While clearly a joke, the comment sparked outrage among NFL fans, who consider “football” sacred terminology in the U.S. Social media lit up with criticism, calling the moment “tone-deaf,” especially coming from a President.
Read More: WNBA Star Warns Trump After Threat to Arrest Zohran Mamdani
The Potus Stays on Stage, Baffles Players
If the executive order quip wasn’t enough, Trump also confused players and fans by refusing to leave the stage after presenting Chelsea with their trophy.
Cole Palmer, who scored twice and earned the Golden Ball award, appeared visibly puzzled and was caught on camera asking,
“What’s he doing?”
Even Infantino was seen urging Trump to step aside, but the President stayed put during the celebration, standing awkwardly among Chelsea’s players as they lifted the trophy.
Trump did offer a positive global message later in the interview, saying:
“It’s about unity… this is probably the most international sport, so it can really bring the world together.”
Yet his appearance ultimately overshadowed Chelsea’s dominant victory, with Palmer’s brace and an assist for Joao Pedro’s goal now competing for headlines with Trump’s antics.
Read More: Championship Teams That Have Visited Trump In The White House