Trump Claims Oval Office Holds the Real World Cup Trophy, Says Chelsea Got a Replica
In an unusual twist to Chelsea’s recent Club World Cup victory, former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that the trophy lifted by the Blues was actually a replica because the original is now on permanent display in the Oval Office.
According to Trump, who attended the final match alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino and other dignitaries, the real trophy never made it to London after the ceremony.
“I said, When are you going to pick up the trophy? They said, ‘We’re never going to pick it up. You can have it forever in the Oval Office. We’re making a new one,’” Trump said during an interview with DAZN, the tournament’s official broadcaster. “They actually made a new one. So that was quite exciting. But it is in the Oval right now.”
Trump and Infantino were seen jointly presenting the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, though behind-the-scenes reports suggest there was visible confusion among the players and quiet attempts by Infantino to get Trump to step aside during the handover.
Since the final, the trophy allegedly the original has been prominently featured in Oval Office events and photo ops. The situation has prompted questions to FIFA about whether Chelsea’s version differs from the authentic Club World Cup prize.
Trump’s growing involvement in football-related affairs has intensified since his second term in office began. In March, he and Infantino jointly unveiled the Club World Cup trophy during a White House event, and it has been on display ever since.
In the same DAZN interview, Trump also floated the idea of renaming “soccer” to “football” in the U.S. by executive order and made characteristically bold claims:
“World leaders are saying the U.S. is the hottest country in the world right now. It’s about unity. It’s about love between nations. And football can bring the world together.”