Chelsea: Cole Palmer 'confused' as Donald Trump remains on stage during Club World Cup trophy lift

In partnership with

Evening Standard

·14 juillet 2025

Chelsea: Cole Palmer 'confused' as Donald Trump remains on stage during Club World Cup trophy lift

The President of the United States had to be escorted to the back by FIFA president Gianni Infantino

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Malik Ouzia

Vidéos OneFootball

Sign up

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Cole Palmer admitted he was “confused” as to why Donald Trump remained on stage for Chelsea’s Club World Cup trophy lift.

The President of the United States was in attendance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sunday as Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 to win the inaugural edition of the 32-team Club World Cup.

Trump handed Chelsea captain Reece James the trophy as the players stood on their winners’ podium but then appeared unaware that he was meant to promptly leave the stage to join FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Trump, who was booed by some of the 81,118 crowd, was stood amongst the Chelsea players as they lifted the trophy and celebrated, before Infantino returned to the stage to escort Trump to the back, behind the Blues.

TV cameras picked up Palmer mouthing “What is he doing?” to James in relation to Trump remaining on stage as the trophy lift was about to begin.

Speaking about it afterwards, Palmer, who scored twice, said: “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. I was a bit confused, yes.”

James added: “They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage, and I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay.

“To be honest it was quite loud. I couldn't hear too much. He just congratulated me and the team for lifting the trophy and told us to enjoy the moment.”

Trump appeared briefly with a reporter at half-time during DAZN’s coverage.

He said: “I am having a really great time. Tremendous sport.”