NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.
Chelsea players left puzzled as President Trump crashes trophy celebration.
President Donald Trump’s surprise appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey has sparked widespread reactions—many of them cringeworthy—after a series of awkward moments during Chelsea FC’s trophy celebration went viral.
Chelsea clinched a dominant 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, July 13, at MetLife Stadium, earning them the Club World Cup title. The celebration took a strange turn when Trump, who had been watching from the VIP section alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, unexpectedly joined the players on the field for the trophy handoff.
While Infantino handed the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James and quickly stepped aside, Trump lingered with the team as they began their jubilant celebration—jumping and cheering with the trophy in hand. Rather than leaving the spotlight, the President remained on stage, prompting confusion among the players and amusement—and secondhand embarrassment—among viewers.
Social media lit up with reactions calling the moment “absolutely embarrassing,” with many questioning Trump’s motives and inability to read the room.
Adding to the buzz, lip reading expert Nicola Hickling offered an analysis of the scene on behalf of OLBG, shedding light on what may have been said during the confusing encounter.
According to Hickling, Chelsea standout Cole Palmer looked noticeably perplexed and appeared to ask a teammate, “Can you ask him to move this way? … wait, what’s going on?” The expert also believes Trump attempted to hold the trophy alongside Reece James, prompting James to calmly shut him down with, “I got this.”
James then turned to goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, allegedly remarking, “It’s actually heavy.”
Trump, reportedly unfazed, turned to Sanchez and said, “What? Let’s go.” In response, Sanchez is said to have offered a calming hand gesture and replied, “On the count of three, come on, come on.”
The entire exchange played out in front of cameras, with Trump standing stiffly as the players bounced around him in celebration, seemingly unsure of how to include or exclude the President without causing a diplomatic scene.
Later, Cole Palmer confirmed the confusion in a post-match interview. “I knew he was going to be there, but I didn’t know he’d be on the stand where we lift the trophy. So, I was a bit confused.”
As if the trophy awkwardness weren’t enough, The Guardian also reported that Trump was booed by sections of the crowd when his face appeared on the video boards during the game.
Body language expert Darren Stanton added to the pile-on, calling Trump’s behavior “disingenuous.”
“He’s got such a fake smile—a masking smile,” Stanton said. “It’s almost like a dad at a wedding, trying to show excitement but clearly uncomfortable. He’s jumping up and down, making those fist gestures, but it’s just not authentic.”
While Trump’s intentions may have been to show enthusiasm and solidarity with the winning team, critics argue the spectacle came off more as a forced photo-op than a genuine celebration. With the clip now circulating widely across platforms, the moment has added yet another layer of spectacle—and scrutiny—to Trump’s ever-public presidency.
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