Former MSNBC presenter Keith Olbermann has launched a scathing attack on football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, labelling him a 'scumbag fascist' after the Al-Nassr striker visited Donald Trump at the White House.
The 66-year-old broadcaster, who previously worked as a sports commentator, erupted on social media after seeing images of Ronaldo posing for selfies with tech billionaire Elon Musk and other dignitaries in the East Room.
White House Gathering Sparks Controversy
Ronaldo was welcomed into the Oval Office this week as part of an official Saudi Arabian delegation visiting Washington DC. The 40-year-old Portuguese forward, who currently plays in the Saudi Pro League, attended the gathering wearing a formal black tuxedo.
The high-profile event attracted numerous powerful figures, including Vice President JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
During a dinner celebration, President Trump highlighted introducing Ronaldo to his son Barron, describing him as 'a huge soccer fan'. Trump remarked: 'This room is loaded up with the biggest leaders in the world - business, sports... My son is a big fan of Ronaldo... Barron got to meet him and I think he respects his father a little bit more now.'
Olbermann's Explosive Reaction
Olbermann did not hold back in his criticism of Ronaldo's association with the political figures. The former ESPN host wrote on social media: 'Crawl with fascist scumbags and you've become a fascist scumbag.'
The broadcaster's outburst came shortly after he was named in a story by journalist Ryan Lizza regarding his past relationship with Olivia Nuzzi. According to Lizza's account, Olbermann had acted as a 'sugar daddy' to Nuzzi when she was 21, allegedly paying for her college tuition, luxury clothing and jewellery worth approximately $15,000.
Olbermann responded to these allegations by posting an animated GIF from The Matrix featuring Neo dodging bullets. In a follow-up post, he acknowledged his four-year relationship with Nuzzi but defended his generosity, questioning: 'What was I supposed to do? Get her gift certificates from Kmart?'
Ronaldo's Political Affiliations
This marked Ronaldo's first public appearance in the United States since 2017, when he faced rape allegations that he has consistently denied. The football legend travelled to Washington alongside a Saudi delegation fronted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Ronaldo has recently made several gestures toward Trump. In July, the former president received a Portugal jersey signed by Ronaldo with the message: 'To president Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace.'
During a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo expressed admiration for Trump, stating: 'He is one of the guys who can help to change the world... One of the most important guys is the US President. He is one of the guys I wish to meet to sit and have a nice talk.'
The Saudi Crown Prince's presence in the United States marked his first visit since US intelligence agencies claimed he approved the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump defended Bin Salman when questioned about the murder, contradicting intelligence reports by stating the Crown Prince 'knew nothing about it'.
As the controversy continues, Olbermann's comments have ignited fresh debate about the intersection of sports, politics and celebrity influence in Washington's power circles.
