Donald Trump has revealed why he likes England captain and World Cup hero Harry Kane so much – and it's not what fans were expecting. The US President disclosed that he and Kane have played golf together, and he praised the striker's golfing ability as well as his football talent.
Trump Praises Kane's Golf Skills
Speaking in a press conference, Trump said: 'I watched last night, what a game that was. Mexico, England… I mean two countries, I don't know the players. Although, I think Kane is a great player. See, I played golf with him and I like him a lot, he's a good golfer. But he's really great.'
Kane was once again on the scoresheet as the Three Lions knocked out co-host Mexico at the Azteca in the early hours of Monday morning. The Bayern Munich striker's penalty to restore 10-man England's two-goal advantage proved decisive, with Thomas Tuchel's team now preparing for a quarter-final clash against Norway.
Trump Intervenes in Balogun Red Card
Trump's comments came during a rambling five-minute answer after he was questioned on his involvement in overturning Folarin Balogun's one-match ban after the USA striker received a red card in his last match. FIFA's decision to allow Balogun to play in tonight's game against Belgium has been widely condemned, not least because it has been reported that Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the matter.
Puring more fuel on the fire, the 80-year-old has now confirmed his actions, saying: 'I saw the play and I'm a person that loves sports and was a good athlete, and I understand sports really well, really well and that wasn't a foul, that wasn't even an infraction, that was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other. 'He [the referee] made a call that nobody could believe. He [Balogun] didn't do anything wrong and he's our best player, or one of our best players… and he gave him a red card. 'It's very unfair, you can't do that. So, yes, I asked for a review by FIFA. I spoke to a man who's highly respected [Infantino] and by the way, whose level of respect has gone up tenfold.'
Millions Stayed Up to Watch
Millions in the UK stayed up throughout the night to watch the epic game and the US President was also keeping an eye on proceedings, showering Kane with praise at full-time. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: 'Harry Kane of England is a GREAT player!!!'
Kane's fondness for golf is well-known but the news that he has played with the US President, himself an avid golfer, is a huge surprise. The revelation adds a new dimension to the relationship between the two sports figures.
