New footage has shown US President Donald Trump receiving a winners’ medal from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, before he joins Chelsea for their Club World Cup trophy lift.
Trump was spotted among the Chelsea players as they lifted the new trophy, pictured alongside captain Reece James after the Blues had stunned Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-0 win in the final.
Cole Palmer was the star of the show within the 90 minutes, with two goals and an assist for Joao Pedro to net the third in a rampant 45 minutes for the Blues.
However, the celebrations were somewhat gatecrashed by the US President, who made a surprise appearance for the big moment.
Trump was seen being handed a medal by Infantino, with pictures showing him holding onto the award during the ceremony.
Yet Trump has now claimed that his involvement in the tournament has not ended with the trophy celebrations on Sunday, as he will now hold onto the real trophy, with Chelsea taking home a replica.
‘[Fifa] is doing fantastically well for [football in America], it’s a growing sport, it is a great sport,’ President Trump told Dazn.
‘They said: “Could you hold this trophy for a little while?”. We put it in the Oval Office and then I said: “When are you going to pick up the trophy”, and [Infantino] said: “We’re never going to pick it up, you can have it forever in the Oval Office”.
‘And they actually made a new one [for Chelsea] but right now [the original] is in the Oval.’
As such, Chelsea – who won the competition and pocketed a hefty prize purse – were given a replica version to take home.
Clubs are usually given the legitimate trophy after winning silverware for their celebrations back home and open-top bus parades, with the cup later switched out.
Mail Sport has approached FIFA for comment.
Viewers of DAZN’s coverage were also able to watch an unlikely exchange, as Infantino introduced Trump to Palmer, as the Chelsea and England star walked up to collect his player of the tournament prize.
Lip reading expert Jeremy Freeman revealed Trump had words of admiration for Palmer, after watching his stunning performance in the final.
‘Chelsea’s biggest fan. I’m a big fan of you. So well done you,’ Trump said, according to Freeman.
Palmer, who has be known to offer few words in post-match interviews, reportedly replied ‘Thank you’ before rejoining his team-mates.
The 23-year-old’s reaction to Trump’s decision to remain on stage during Chelsea’s trophy presentation, however, has garnered the biggest reaction from fans.
The US President had been given the honour of presenting the trophy to Blues captain Reece James, with the expectation that he would then step aside, as it customary.
Infantino was seen attempting to usher Trump away from Chelsea players, but the US president remained in place, standing either side of James and Sanchez.
Trump’s refusal to leave the stage left Chelsea players bewildered with Palmer appearing to say, ‘What’s he doing?’.
Speaking post-match, Palmer admitted ‘I knew he was going to be here but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy so I was a bit confused, yeah.’
Further light has been shed on Trump’s presence in the trophy presentation, with his interactions with Chelsea captain James and goalkeeper Sanchez having been revealed.
While Palmer appeared confused in the background, Freeman revealed James had asked for Trump’s permission to lift the trophy.
As Palmer said ‘No, no, just wait, wait…wait…wait’, James was seen turning to the US President to seek his approval.
James reportedly said ‘I can lift?’, with Trump responding ‘Oh we can, good!’
According to Freeman, Sanchez had been open to Trump remaining on the stage and being part of the celebrations.
‘Please, sir,’ the goalkeeper said to Trump, according to Freeman, before asking him ‘Want us to lift the trophy next to you?’
With Trump having signalled his approval, Sanchez was seen motioning for James to lift the trophy and kick-start the celebrations.
