President Donald Trump shared a 24-second edited clip of the World Cup final that removes a moment when he lingered on stage after presenting the trophy to Spain. Gianni Infantino eventually escorted him off while Spain celebrated their victory over Argentina. Trump posted the trimmed clip to Truth Social after the pause drew online mockery; he was also reportedly booed and was absent from some official photos. The episode follows earlier controversy when Trump said he called Infantino about Folarin Balogun's red card, a decision FIFA later described as a "balanced measure."
Trump Shares Edited World Cup Clip That Removes Awkward Stage Moment
Trump shares new edit of World Cup trophy ceremony that removes his awkward moment
President Donald Trump posted a newly edited 24-second clip of the World Cup final that omits an awkward pause after he handed Spain the trophy.
What Happened On Stage
Trump joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to present the trophy after Spain beat Argentina. The edited clip preserves the trophy handover and shows Trump shaking some players' hands, but it cuts away before the moment when Spain captain Rodri appeared to gesture for him to move on and Infantino eventually escorted him off the stage.
President Trump has shared an edited version of Spain's World Cup celebration (Getty)
The original sequence included Spain's full celebration—golden confetti fired from a cannon as players leapt and cheered—moments that the short edit omits. The brief pause on stage had drawn heavy online mockery and was widely shared across social platforms.
Public Reaction
Photos shared by the Spanish national team and by FIFA did not include Trump, and parts of the crowd reportedly booed him during the final. Trump later posted the trimmed clip to his Truth Social account.
Trump handed over the World Cup trophy to the Spanish team alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Sunday (Getty)
Earlier Tournament Controversy
Earlier in the tournament, Trump said he had called Infantino to complain about U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's red card in the United States' match with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun's one-match ban was subsequently suspended for a year; FIFA said the decision was overseen by independent bodies and described it as a "balanced measure." Infantino has also defended the process.
Broader Context
Last year, Trump received the inaugural "FIFA Peace Prize." His appearance at the World Cup comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Madrid: in recent weeks Trump publicly criticized Spain's defense spending and trade relationship with the United States. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has also publicly criticized some of Trump's rhetoric and foreign-policy positions.
Bottom line: Trump posted a short, edited clip that keeps the celebratory trophy handover but removes the awkward moment when he lingered at the edge of the stage. The edit follows a broader backdrop of controversy and strained U.S.–Spain relations.
Help us improve.
