Donald Trump has left soccer fans split after giving a postgame interview following Chelsea’s 3-0 Club World Cup win.
The president captured the spotlight at MetLife Stadium, seated beside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, to witness the Blues’ win over PSG, before he was given the distinguished task of presenting the trophy.
And the 79-year-old stepped into the spotlight yet again following the final whistle when he spoke with DAZN reporter Emily Austin.
Following the match, a broadcaster featured a three-and-a-half-minute interview with Trump, during which he hinted at an executive order aimed at renaming the sport within the United States.
Austin jokingly suggested that Trump should introduce a mandate to officially make Americans call soccer ‘football.’
‘I think we could do that,’ he cheekily quipped back.
After the match, DAZN aired an interview of President Donald Trump with Emily Austin
The president’s discussion with DAZN’s Emily Austin (pictured) left fans divided
Trump also inexplicably inserted himself into the frame of Chelsea’s victory trophy lift
The Commander-in-Chief also seized the chance to take a jab at his political opponents while discussing the future of the sport in the country.
When asked how the United States national soccer teams might achieve global dominance, Trump sidestepped, saying, ‘we’re excelling in other areas: politically and financially.’
Trump continued: ‘All the leaders said a year ago, ‘your country was dead and now you have the hottest country in the world’… We were doing very badly as a country, we had an incompetent administration… But now we have a hot country, it’s really hot, and I think the soccer’s gonna be hot too.’
Toward the end of the interview, Trump was asked what his message to viewers around the world would be before the World Cup arrives next year.
‘It’s about unity, it’s about everybody getting together and a lot of love between countries… I guess this is probably the most international sport, so it can really bring the world together,’ Trump said.
Yet, on social media, the interview left fans of the sport divided with some criticising the network for allowing Trump a platform in the middle of an international soccer tournament to rail against his political enemies.
Alfie House of the Daily Echo posted, ‘Why are DAZN broadcasting a political party interview with Donald Trump? This is absurd.’
‘Why the f**k are dazn televising and doing an interview with trump at the club World Cup? How can they genuinely think that’s a good idea after everything he’s done,’ said another viewer.
Trump was booed by the crowd when he went on the pitch at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Social media was critical of DAZN for airing the interview after an international tournament
One viewer posted, ‘DAZN kissing Trump’s a**e. It’s embarrassing.’ Another said , ‘No DAZN it’s not great to hear from President Trump.’
‘This dazn trump interview is straight up propaganda,’ another comment read .
Another said , ‘This Trump interview is honestly embarrassing. Dazn & FIFA should be ashamed’.
One viewer even suggested that Trump was flirting with the reporter asking the questions, with one comment on X saying , ‘Trump is just hitting on the blonde interviewer on DAZN while chatting his nonsense. What the hell is this??’
Chelsea clinched the Club World Cup title for the second time in their history, beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in front of a sold out crowd in New Jersey.
Cole Palmer bagged a first half brace before new signing Joao Pedro put away the final goal of the match.
