Trump booed as World Cup final crowd spots him on stadium screens
TMZ reported that boos rang out at MetLife Stadium when President Donald Trump appeared on screens before the Spain-Argentina final.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
President Donald Trump got a loud reception before the FIFA World Cup final even kicked off, with TMZ reporting that fans booed when his image appeared on the big screens at MetLife Stadium.
The moment came Sunday shortly after Jennifer Hudson performed the national anthem ahead of the championship match between Spain and Argentina, according to the outlet. Trump was at the stadium to take part in the trophy ceremony after the final whistle.
TMZ said video from the scene showed Trump standing next to First Lady Melania Trump as the crowd reacted. The broadcast then moved away from the close-up of the president and switched to a wide aerial view of the New Jersey stadium, according to the report.
Getty images from the event showed Trump at the final, and TMZ reported that he arrived in New Jersey on Marine One about 45 minutes before kickoff.
Once inside, Trump watched the match from a glass-enclosed luxury suite, TMZ reported. He was seated with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other world leaders, according to the outlet.
The White House had previewed the appearance days earlier. TMZ reported that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday that Trump would attend the final, describing the event as a fitting close to a tournament that put the United States in front of a global audience.
Trump’s role was not limited to sitting in the stands. TMZ reported that he was expected to join Infantino after the match to present the World Cup trophy to the winning team.
The final brought together Spain and Argentina for the title match, with Hudson handling the anthem duties before play began. The report did not say whether the boos continued after the broadcast cut away from Trump’s close-up.
TMZ also noted that this was not Trump’s only recent icy sports-arena moment. The outlet previously reported that he was booed by fans when he appeared during the national anthem at Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden last month.
Sunday’s scene added another political charge to one of the biggest sporting events on the calendar. According to TMZ, Trump arrived ready for a high-profile trophy presentation, but the first headline from the stadium came from the crowd’s reaction when his face hit the screens.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.