Watch: Donald Trump refuses to leave podium, crashes Chelsea's CWC celebrations

In an unexpected moment, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, refused to leave the podium as Chelsea captain Reece James was about to lift the FIFA Club World Cup title following the team’s 3-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Monday, July 14.

PSG vs CHE, FIFA Club World Cup Final Highlights

Typically, dignitaries step aside after handing over the trophy, allowing the players to celebrate on their own. However, Trump chose to remain at the centre of the celebrations. Moments later, FIFA President Gianni Infantino also joined the group, further adding to the spectacle.

advertisement

“I came to watch Pele, and he was fantastic. That's like saying Babe Ruth, but I would say Pele was so great,” Trump said in an interview with broadcaster DAZN, drawing an unusual comparison between the football legend and the American baseball icon.

THEY DID IT! @ChelseaFC lift the FIFA Club World Cup!

CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD

GLOBAL HOME OF FOOTBALL | Live All Summer Long | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #CHEPSG pic.twitter.com/44SgOhV7n7— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) July 13, 2025

Chelsea’s standout performer on the night, Cole Palmer, admitted he was surprised by Trump’s presence on the podium during the celebrations.

“I knew he was going to be there, 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, adding to the general surprise among the Chelsea squad.

Palmer, who has been in excellent form, put on a show in the final. He scored two goals and assisted Joao Pedro for the third in a blistering first-half performance that sealed the title for the London club.

His rise has been meteoric, and the attention around him is growing, especially in the United States. “I’ve seen the billboards in Times Square and outside of Madison Square Garden. It’s a nice feeling to be obviously alongside them types of players,” Palmer said.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised Palmer’s performance and stressed that these are the moments he expects his key players to deliver. “These are the games where we expect Cole to appear because they are big games, big moments,” Maresca said.

Palmer, in turn, credited his manager’s gameplan for the success, especially with Chelsea being seen as underdogs going into the final. “It’s a great feeling. Even better because obviously, everyone doubted us before the game. The gaffer put a great gameplan out, and obviously, he knew where the space was going to be,” he added.

The result marked a landmark win for Chelsea, who overcame the odds to claim their maiden Club World Cup crown.

- Ends

Published By: Amar Panicker Published On: Jul 14, 2025

Tune In

Click here to read article