US President Donald Trump broke his silence following his nation's elimination from the FIFA World Cup they are co-hosting, yet chose to make no mention of the result itself. The US side were well beaten 4-1 by Belgium in the round of 16 on Monday, July 6 in Seattle. Trump did comment on the country but made no reference to its football team, which is staging matches at the tournament alongside neighbours Canada and Mexico.
Trump's Truth Social Post
After they crashed out, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social: "The United States Military has never been stronger, or more powerful. No other Nation can do what we do (It's not even close!)." He added: "This year we set even more Historic Recruiting Records, months ahead of schedule. Morale has never been higher."
Trump continued: "Our Military's unmatched POWER was on full display during our Celebration of 250 Years of American Independence and, like our Country, the WAR DEPARTMENT has never been 'HOTTER.' We need to keep it that way, which is why, when Congress returns, we must pass Reconciliation 3.0, with 350 Billion Dollars for Defense, plus THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!"
Controversy Over Balogun Red Card
The loss came after Trump ignited a furious row with FIFA after calling its boss, Gianni Infantino, to overturn a red card for USA's star striker, Folarin Balogun. Balogun had been sent off in the Round-of-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina and faced an automatic one-match suspension for the Belgium game.
However, after Trump and Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup task force, spoke to Infantino by phone, the automatic one-match suspension was postponed. FIFA announced on Sunday that the punishment had been suspended, clearing America's leading goal-scorer to play.
Trump later celebrated the decision on Truth Social, writing: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice."
Silence on World Cup Exit
Despite his earlier involvement, Trump remained silent on his country's World Cup exit, according to reports from the Mirror. The US team's defeat marked the end of their campaign in the tournament they are co-hosting with Canada and Mexico.
