Chelsea’s Club World Cup victory over PSG was already big news — but it was former U.S. President Donald Trump’s unexpected cameo during the trophy ceremony that really stole the show.
Not only did he hand out awards, but he stuck around on stage longer than expected, leaving players, fans, and even the FIFA president slightly baffled.
Chelsea Crush PSG to Clinch Club World Cup Title
The Blues put on a dominant performance at New York’s MetLife Stadium, beating reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain 3-0. Cole Palmer bagged a brace, while Joao Pedro sealed the victory with a third goal.
It was a huge moment for Chelsea — and the kind of match that called for big celebrations.
But no one anticipated that the final act would include Donald Trump standing awkwardly in the middle of the trophy presentation, smiling with the team like he was part of the squad.
Lip Reader Reveals What Trump Said to Chelsea Stars
Trump, who had been watching from the VIP section alongside First Lady Melania Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, joined the players on stage to present awards — and didn’t leave.
Thanks to lip-reading expert Jeremy Freeman, we now know what Trump actually said to some of the players.
To Cole Palmer, after watching his standout performance, Trump reportedly said:
“Chelsea’s biggest fan. I’m a big fan of you. So well done you.”
Palmer, famously quiet in interviews, simply responded with a polite “Thank you” before rejoining his team.
Palmer’s Honest Reaction Sums It All Up
Even though Palmer accepted Trump’s praise graciously, fans noticed the 23-year-old looked confused as the U.S. president remained planted on stage during the team’s big moment.
Cameras even caught him mouthing, “What’s he doing?”
Later, 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.”
Fair enough.
Reece James Asks Permission to Lift the Trophy
In another awkward exchange decoded by Freeman, Chelsea captain Reece James was seen turning to Trump and asking, “I can lift?” — seeking some sort of nod of approval.
Trump reportedly replied, “Oh we can, good!” and the celebration went ahead, though Trump remained front and centre.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez even welcomed Trump’s presence, saying, “Please, sir. Want us to lift the trophy next to you?”
With that, the moment was sealed — Trump smiled wide as James hoisted the trophy, surrounded by confused teammates and roaring fans.
Fans Compare Trump to John Terry’s Famous Celebration Cameo
It didn’t take long for fans online to have their fun.
Many compared Trump’s photo-bombing moment to John Terry’s infamous 2012 Champions League celebration, where he joined Chelsea’s celebrations in full kit despite being suspended for the final.
One fan wrote on X:
“Trump gone all John Terry.”
Another quipped:
“Trump ruined the Chelsea celebration photo.”
And one more added:
“Trump standing clueless in the middle of Chelsea’s celebration photos lifting the trophy is brilliant lmao.”
Still, not all reactions were critical — some fans just found the whole thing hilariously surreal.
Trump’s Arrival Came With Heavy Security
Trump and Melania landed at Teterboro Airport about 35 minutes before kickoff, arriving in style aboard Marine One.
Security was intense, as expected — especially since this outing came exactly one year after the assassination attempt Trump survived in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The Secret Service coordinated with event organizers to ensure everything ran smoothly, even reportedly setting up bulletproof glass at the stadium.
Trump was briefly shown on the big screen during the national anthem, where the crowd responded with a mix of cheers and loud boos — prompting the camera feed to quickly cut away.
Booed by the Crowd, but Still Center Stage
As Trump joined Infantino on the pitch post-match, the stadium erupted in more boos.
Yet Trump was undeterred. He presented Robert Sanchez with the Golden Glove, posed with the team, and refused to step away during their big moment.
What was meant to be a highlight for Chelsea turned into an unusual mix of celebration, confusion, and political cameo — a scene that fans won’t forget anytime soon.