The White House has hit back after claims that some among the Spain squad were 'mocking' President Donald Trump following the World Cup final. Spain defeated Argentina to claim the trophy in New Jersey on Sunday as Trump watched from the stands.
Trump, who was roundly booed by the crowd, joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino on stage to hand out medals prior to the trophy presentation. However, he lingered far too long in his bid to share in Spain's triumph, and Infantino had to step in and coerce him away.
Photos edited out
Many post-tournament photographs of the moment told a different story, with Trump and Infantino edited out entirely. This was evident on Spain's official social media channels and in FIFA's own images.
World Cup hero Ferran Torres added further fuel to the fire upon landing in Madrid. Torres, who scored the only goal in the final, was spotted wearing a red cap strikingly similar to Trump's 'Make America Great Again' design, only his bore the words 'Make Spain Great Again'.
White House response
The White House subsequently published its own footage of the World Cup final via Instagram, ensuring Trump featured prominently in a video depicting him as part of the championship celebrations. The caption read: 'Nobody does it quite like President Trump and America. To everyone who traveled from around the world to join, thanks for experiencing the hype firsthand. Now you know what makes America one of a kind.'
The episode attracted considerable condemnation from viewers at home, with numerous people remarking on his evident wish to command attention. This was not limited to Spain fans alone as Argentina enforcer Cristian Romero declined the opportunity to shake Trump's hand.
