The Chelsea football team's victory at the FIFA Club World Cup was somewhat overshadowed by an unexpected participant in the trophy ceremony: former U.S. President Donald Trump. Following Chelsea's commanding 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Trump joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the pitch to present the trophy.

Trump's presence at the match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was met with a mixed reception. While some fans cheered his arrival, a significant portion of the crowd booed when he appeared on the stadium's screen. The boos intensified when he joined Infantino to present the awards. Trump handed out individual awards, including the Golden Ball to Chelsea's Cole Palmer and the Golden Glove to Chelsea's Robert Sánchez. He and Infantino then jointly presented the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James.

However, it was Trump's behavior during the trophy presentation that drew the most attention. Instead of following Infantino off the stage after handing over the trophy, Trump lingered, remaining front and center as the Chelsea players celebrated their victory. This decision went against the usual protocol, where the team is allowed to enjoy the moment amongst themselves.

Chelsea's players appeared to be largely unbothered by Trump's presence, though some expressed confusion. Reece James admitted that he couldn't hear much of what Trump said due to the noise, but noted that Trump congratulated the team and told them to enjoy the moment. Cole Palmer, who scored two goals in the match, was visibly confused by Trump's prolonged presence. "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,” Palmer stated, "I was a bit confused, yeah".

Social media users also noticed Palmer's seemingly "ice-cold" reaction when shaking hands with Trump. Some users suggested that Palmer appeared uncomfortable, while others joked about whether he even realized he had met the former president. Some viewers spotted Trump asking Infantino if Palmer was Lionel Messi.

Trump's appearance at the Club World Cup wasn't without other memorable moments. When asked to name his all-time favorite soccer player, Trump cited Pelé, reminiscing about seeing him play for the New York Cosmos in the Meadowlands. He also commented on the growth of soccer in the United States, stating, "It's a growing sport, it's a great sport".

Despite the awkwardness and confusion expressed by some, Chelsea's victory marked a historic moment for the club, winning the first Club World Cup since the tournament was expanded. The game also had some memorable moments, such as when PSG's midfielder Joao Neves pulled Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella's hair in the 85th minute. Chelsea's Cole Palmer scored two almost identical goals. Following the final whistle, players from both sides appeared to be involved in a large altercation on the pitch and PSG coach Luis Enrique appeared to grab at Pedro's neck.