President Donald Trump was a constant presence on the television screens of those watching the Club World Cup Final – including in a post-game interview after Chelsea won the tournament.
Relatives and those who are close to the President were heavily involved in the preparation and promotion for this expanded tournament.
So when the day of the final came at MetLife Stadium, Trump was seated in a luxury box, handed out awards, and was inexplicably right next to Chelsea captain Reece James for the trophy lift.
But his DAZN interview with 24-year-old reporter Emily Austin at the conclusion of the game drew ire from social media.
After the game concluded, the broadcaster aired a three-and-a-half minute long interview with Trump where he took jabs at his political opponents while also discussing the future of the sport in the country.
Trump initially dodged a question about how the United States national soccer teams could begin to dominate on the global stage by saying, ‘we’re doing very well on the other stage, on the political stage, on the financial stage.’
After the match, DAZN aired an interview of President Donald Trump with Emily Austin
Some social media users suggested Trump was ‘hitting on’ the stunning reporter
Trump also inexplicably inserted himself into the frame of Chelsea’s victory trophy lift
Trump continued: ‘All the leaders said a year ago, “your country was dead and now you have the hottest country in the world”… We were doing very badly as a country, we had an incompetent administration… But now we have a hot country, it’s really hot, and I think the soccer’s gonna be hot too.’
Toward the end of the interview, Trump was asked what his message to viewers around the world would be before the World Cup arrives next year.
‘It’s about unity, it’s about everybody getting together and a lot of love between countries… I guess this is probably the most international sport, so it can really bring the world together,’ Trump said.
On social media, the interview drew criticism and outrage – seemingly echoing the boos that Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino received when they walked out onto the pitch for the trophy presentation.
Some believed that Trump was flirting with the reporter asking the questions, with one comment on X saying, ‘Trump is just hitting on the blonde interviewer on DAZN while chatting his nonsense. What the hell is this??’
Many others were critical of DAZN allowing Trump a platform in the middle of an international soccer tournament to rail against his political enemies.
Alfie House of the Daily Echo posted, ‘Why are DAZN broadcasting a political party interview with Donald Trump? This is absurd.’
President Donald Trump wasn’t the most welcome presence at the Club World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday as the crowd booed him when he went on the pitch in New Jersey
Social media was critical of DAZN for airing the interview while some believed that the President was ‘hitting on’ Austin during the report which aired after the game had ended
‘Why the f**k are dazn televising and doing an interview with trump at the club World Cup? How can they genuinely think that’s a good idea after everything he’s done,’ said another viewer.
One viewer posted, ‘DAZN kissing Trump’s a**e. It’s embarrassing.’ Another said, ‘No DAZN it’s not great to hear from President Trump.’
‘This dazn trump interview is straight up propaganda,’ another comment read.
Another said, ‘This Trump interview is honestly embarrassing. Dazn & FIFA should be ashamed’.
Chelsea clinched the Club World Cup title for the second time in their history, beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in front of a sold out crowd in New Jersey.
Cole Palmer bagged a first half brace before new signing Joao Pedro put away the final goal of the match.
