Trump Receives a Warm Welcome as He Gatecrashes Chelsea’s Club World Cup Trophy Celebration – Cole Palmer’s Three-Word Response and Their Unusual Embrace in a Viral Video Has Everyone Talking! See More

Chelsea hero Cole Palmer was left visibly confused as former U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly gatecrashed Chelsea’s Club World Cup trophy celebration, stealing the spotlight in a moment that’s now gone viral.

Trump, 79, arrived at MetLife Stadium to loud cheers before Chelsea’s surprise 3-0 win over PSG, where Palmer bagged a brace and Joao Pedro added another. Roughly 35 minutes before kickoff, Trump and First Lady Melania landed at nearby Teterboro Airport via Marine One, having flown in from Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Seated alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Trump and Melania soaked in the match from a private suite. Melania turned heads in a chic white dress and black blazer, while Trump appeared relaxed — at least until the post-match chaos began.

After the final whistle, Trump was invited to join the trophy presentation, where he handed over the Club World Cup to Chelsea captain Reece James. But rather than stepping aside — as is customary — Trump remained center stage for the entire trophy lift, to the clear bewilderment of Chelsea players.

Cole Palmer, who had earlier been presented with the Golden Ball award by Trump, was caught on camera muttering: “What’s he doing?” His puzzled expression quickly became a meme across social media.

Social media wasted no time in reacting. Fans likened Trump’s stage-hogging to Chelsea legend John Terry, who famously wore full kit to celebrate the club’s 2012 Champions League win — despite not playing in the final.

“Trump’s gone full John Terry,” one fan joked on X (formerly Twitter).
“Trump just stood there clueless, waiting for the celebration,” another added.
“Trump ruined the Chelsea celebration photo,” one post read, while another said, “Chelsea laughing their heads off at Trump joining them — good stuff.”

The awkward moment, combined with Palmer’s honest reaction, has made the clip one of the most shared videos from the event.

Despite the light-hearted moment, Trump’s appearance came with heightened security. The outing marked exactly one year since the assassination attempt he survived in Butler, Pennsylvania, and Secret Service coordinated closely with stadium officials to secure the venue. It was believed Trump would be positioned behind bulletproof glass, but he surprised everyone by taking the field.

Trump’s son, Donald Jr., and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson were also in attendance and seen sharing a kiss on the runway as they awaited the president’s arrival.

Inside the stadium, Trump appeared on the big screen during the national anthem, greeted by a mix of cheers and boos from the 80,000-strong crowd. The jeers grew louder when he re-emerged alongside Infantino to present the trophy.

Following the presentation, Infantino reportedly asked Trump to step aside — but the former president refused to leave, remaining in the spotlight as Chelsea lifted the trophy.

This raised eyebrows not just among fans, but also among security experts.

“When you do the threat and risk assessment, you cover anything that could go wrong — even if the stage collapses,” said Nigel Thomas, a former British SAS soldier, speaking to The Athletic.
“You need to be prepared for it, and that takes communication with stadium security and emergency services.”

Despite the potential risk, Trump seemed to revel in the attention. His unexpected presence, Cole Palmer’s candid reaction, and the bizarre lingering on stage have turned a routine trophy ceremony into a social media spectacle — one that fans, meme pages, and commentators are still talking about.

And for Chelsea fans, Palmer’s brilliance may have won them the title — but Trump’s cameo definitely stole the internet.