Featured Image Credit: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Football, Sport, Politics, Iran
Phoebe Tonks
Topics: Donald Trump, Football, Sport, Politics, Iran
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were caught on camera looking visibly confused as Donald Trump launched into a lengthy rant about US military operations in Iran during their visit to the White House.
The visit, which took place on Thursday (March 5) to celebrate the club’s 2025 Major League Soccer Cup title, had initially been intended to focus on the sport and the team’s achievement, however, it seems the president couldn’t quite help himself from meandering off on a lengthy political rant instead.
Some of the team - who won 3-1 against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in December - appeared to look confused during Trump's tirade, which shifted from talk of soccer to military might.
Opening his speech with a reference to the players, as they stood on stage just behind him, Trump said: “We like champions. We like winners,” as Messi and the Inter Miami stars looked on.
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Yet then he seemed to segue into talk of Iran instead, as he quickly pivoted to say: “And before we begin, I think I will say a few words about what's going on with respect to our operation in the country of Iran.
“The United States military, together with the wonderful Israeli partners, continues to totally demolish the enemy far ahead of schedule, and at levels that people have never seen before, actually.”
The president continued by describing the scope of the ongoing military campaign, including the successes so far, adding: “We're destroying more of Iran's missiles and drone capability every single hour, knocking them out like nobody thought was possible.
“As soon as they set off a missile, within four minutes, the launcher gets hit. They don't know what's happening. But we have the greatest military anywhere in the world.”
“Their navy is gone. Twenty-four ships in three days. That's a lot of ships,” he continued. “Their anti-aircraft weapons are gone, so they have no Air Force. They have no air defense. All of their airplanes are gone. Their communications are gone. Missiles are gone. Launches are gone.”
The president said: “60 percent and 64 percent, respectively,” of Iran’s capabilities had been destroyed before concluding: “Other than that, they're doing quite well. I say, what's left? But they're tough.”
As Trump paused at various points in his speech, he was met with applause from some of the players and people in the East Room.
The shift from soccer to warfare didn’t go unnoticed by users on social media, with several commenting on video footage shared from the event online.
One user commented: "Donald Trump talking about a USA-Iran war with Messi in the background having absolutely no clue what’s going on."
Another added: "Was supposed to be a celebration for Inter Miami CF… instead it turned into a speech about Iran. One of the strangest White House sports ceremonies in years."
Messi, who joined the club in July 2023, presented Trump with a signature Miami pink soccer ball, as well as a jersey with his name on from Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas.
Elsewhere in the speech, the POTUS spoke of his son Barron being a 'big fan' of Messi.
"He's a big fan of yours. He thinks you're just a great person. And I think you got to meet a little while ago," Trump said. "So he's a big soccer fan, but he's a tremendous fan of yours. And a gentleman named Ronaldo. Cristiano is great. You're great."
Al Nassr player Cristiano Ronaldo attended a White House state dinner in 2025 and has previously called the president 'one of the guys that can help change the world'.
UNILAD has contacted representatives of Messi and Inter Miami for comment.