Featured Image Credit: David Ramos/Getty
Topics: Donald Trump, Football, Viral, Sport
Emily Brown
A lip reading expert has shared her thoughts on the conversation that took place at the FIFA Club World Cup final as Donald Trump joined Chelsea FC to celebrate their win.
Chelsea secured their success on Sunday (July 13), with the POTUS watching on as they took on Paris Saint-German at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
After Chelsea ended the game with a score of 3-0, Trump joined FIFA president Gianni Infantino to pick up the shiny trophy and carry it over to the team, including Chelsea captain Reece James.
The president did hand over the trophy, but while Infantino removed himself from shot Trump stayed standing alongside the team as they jumped up and down with delight, leading to a moment viewers described as 'absolutely embarrassing'.
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In the wake of the cringe-inducing moment, lip reading expert Nicola Hickling shared insight to the interaction on behalf of OLBG.
She explained that talisman Cole Palmer looked 'visibly confused' by Trump's decision to stand with the team as they lifted the trophy, prompting him to turn and ask: “Can you ask him to move this way?... wait, what’s going on?”
Hickling then expressed belief that Trump wanted 'to hold the trophy with Reece James', prompting James to say: “I got this”
James looks at Robert Sanchez, and allegedly says: “It's actually heavy”
Then Trump, speaking to Sanchez, reportedly says: "What? Let’s go.”
At that point, Sanchez takes a step forward with what Hickling describes as a 'calming wave and direction', saying: “On the count of three, come on, come on."
After the game, Palmer admitted in an interview that he was caught off guard by Trump's actions during the celebration, saying: "I knew he was going to be there, but I didn't know he was going be on the stand where we lift the trophy. So, I was a bit confused."
The awkward moment during the trophy presentation reportedly wasn't the only one to come out of the FIFA Club World Cup final, as the Guardian also reported that the POTUS was booed by members of the crowd when he appeared on video boards during the match.
In his own analysis of the events, body language expert Darren Stanton expressed belief Trump was 'disingenuous' during his appearance, saying: "He's got such a fake smile, a masking smile, it's almost like a dad at a wedding, he's trying to show excitement, but he's like a fish out of water.
“Trump makes these kinds of fist gestures and jumps up and down. I just think Trump is trying his best to get involved in the excitement, but not really authentic.”