Donald Trump was on hand to present the Jules Rimet trophy to Spain after they beat Argentina in the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday
Donald Trump once again found himself reluctant to leave the spotlight during a trophy presentation, with the United States President choosing to remain for the celebrations after Spain defeated Argentina in the World Cup final.
The 80-year-old raised eyebrows by lingering after handing over the trophy, and was spotted enthusiastically joining in as Chelsea’s players revelled in their achievement.
Trump repeated the same trick in New Jersey after presenting Spain’s captain, Rodri, with the coveted Jules Rimet trophy.
He remained on the platform as Spain’s jubilant squad celebrated, before being gently nudged along by a laughing Gianni Infantino.
It was confirmed last month that Trump would hand over the trophy to the tournament winners, mirroring his role last summer when Chelsea lifted the Fifa Club World Cup, held across the United States.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino had been the one to confirm Trump would do the honours at Sunday’s final. “That’s always been the plan,” he said, reports the Mirror.
“That’s how it’s always been done in the past – the president of the country where the final is held presents the trophy together with the FIFA president.”
Earlier in the match, Trump was booed by large sections of the MetLife Stadium crowd.
Just after the US national anthem had concluded, the cheers that had accompanied it rapidly gave way to a chorus of boos, whistles, and jeers directed at the president, who had arrived via the Marine One helicopter.
As such the stadium was packed with security, with the match designated a “Level 1” special event – the highest security classification in the US – putting it on a par with presidential inaugurations and State of the Union addresses.
Ahead of the final in New Jersey, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the scale of the security operation, framing Trump’s attendance as the crowning moment of the entire tournament.
“His attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure and most successful World Cup in American history,” Leavitt said.
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