US President Donald Trump has been sharply criticised by comedian Seth Meyers for his perceived hypocrisy in celebrating Spain's recent World Cup triumph, just days after threatening the European nation with a significant trade embargo. Trump, alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, was booed as he entered the pitch following Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final on Sunday.
Meyers, speaking on Monday's episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers, highlighted the stark contrast between Trump's presence at the celebrations and his recent directive to US trade officials. Less than a month ago, during the NATO summit in Turkey, the US President reportedly instructed Secretary of Trade Scott Bessent to prepare to cut trade with Spain, stating, "Don't even talk to them. They're hopeless. They're bad people." This escalation stemmed from Trump's anger over Spain's refusal to increase its defence spending to the US-mandated target of 5% of GDP for European allies.
The comedian joked that Trump's sudden appearance alongside the victorious Spanish team, clutching the World Cup trophy, was a clear example of his priorities shifting when "gold is around." Reports from the event suggested Trump was reluctant to leave the stage as the Spanish players celebrated, eventually being ushered off by Infantino. Even FIFA's president, whose tenure has been marked by controversy, reportedly tried to remove Trump, with Meyers quipping, "The head of the most corrupt organization on Earth was like, 'This is a bad look!'"
The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's office had previously dismissed Trump's threats, describing them as "business as usual" and reiterating Spain's strong social, cultural, and economic ties with the US. Despite these assurances, the US President's actions on the world stage continue to generate debate, particularly when juxtaposed with his earlier rhetoric.
The incident also follows another controversial moment during the World Cup, where a red card issued to USMNT star Folarin Balogun was reportedly overturned after an intervention by President Trump, a move that drew widespread criticism against FIFA and its president.