What did Donald Trump do today?
He got in the way of sports, again.
Trump attended the World Cup final at the Meadowlands in New Jersey today. As is usually the case when Trump goes to a sporting event, his visit resulted in three things happening:
- Loud, sustained boos. Trump is deeply unpopular with both American and international audiences, and fans at sporting events always let him know it. (That's why he's tried to promote the annual Army-Navy football game—cadets under military orders can't boo him.)
Today was no exception: when he took to the field to take part in the trophy ceremony, he was loudly booed. - Disruption and delays. As usual, Trump's security requirements forced long waits for fans who paid for tickets—up to three hours in the hot sun, just to get through security. Fans were told to arrive four hours early for this game, although there were no waits at all for other capacity crowds at the Meadowlands during the tournament.
Journalists in particular reported being turned away in spite of having valid credentials. - Making himself the center of attention. In spite of the loud boos that greeted his appearance, Trump seemed to consider himself part of the celebration for the victorious Spanish team, and had to be cajoled off the stage by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
It was an eerie repeat of Trump's bizarre performance at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, a warm-up event for this year's tournament. Then, Trump refused to yield the stage to the tournament's winners, instead standing center stage with the trophy while boos rained down on him. A tournament official had to physically take hold of the trophy and guide Trump to the waiting Senegalese team, and he still stood in front of them as they celebrated.
Why does this matter?
- Past a certain point, the need to be the center of attention becomes pathological.