Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Reece James express surprise and confusion after sharing the podium with Donald Trump during the Club World Cup celebrations.
Chelsea’s triumphant moment after beating PSG 3-0 in the Club World Cup final took an unexpected turn when US President Donald Trump lingered on stage with the team.
Cole Palmer, the Golden Ball winner, and captain Reece James both admitted to being confused by Trump’s actions. Palmer scored two brilliant goals and set up João Pedro’s third, but the celebrations were overshadowed by Trump’s presence.
As the Chelsea captain received the trophy, Trump stood beside him, beaming with a smile.
However, instead of exiting the stage as expected, Trump remained, prompting James to ask, “Are you staying?” Palmer also looked perplexed, asking James, “What’s he doing?” The unexpected turn of events left both players surprised and unsure how to react.
Palmer later explained that he knew Trump would be attending the event but didn’t expect him to join them on stage for the trophy lift.
“I knew he was going to be here, but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy, so I was a bit confused,” Palmer said. James shared similar sentiments, stating that he thought Trump would present the trophy and then exit the stage.
Despite the confusion, Trump seemed to enjoy himself, even joking about renaming the sport “football” in the US. “I had a good time,” Trump said, adding that he might consider signing an executive order to make the change. The 2026 World Cup is set to feature 6.5 million visitors across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
The crowd’s reaction to Trump’s appearance was mixed, with some applauding and others booing. This comes exactly a year after Trump survived an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. Trump’s presence at the MetLife stadium added a layer of complexity to the celebrations.
Chelsea’s win was a dominant performance, with Palmer’s two goals and an assist securing their place in history. The team’s excitement about their achievement was palpable, but Trump’s lingering presence took away from their moment.
Maresca’s post-match comments focused on the team’s performance, praising their effort and game plan. However, the unexpected twist of Trump’s stage presence will likely be remembered for a long time.
The aftermath of the game saw Trump leave the award stand with a medal of his own, handed to him by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
