As multiple political and military crises threatened to engulf his administration, President Donald Trump opted for a day of self-congratulation and entertainment at the FIFA World Cup draw in Washington D.C., culminating in a lengthy delay while he inspected renovations at the Kennedy Centre.
A Made-Up Honour and a Presidential Dance
On Saturday 6 December 2025, at the Kennedy Centre Opera House, Donald Trump beamed as he accepted a newly-minted FIFA Peace Prize. The award, created by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, was presented after Trump was overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize, which went to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
Infantino, a frequent visitor to the Oval Office in Trump's second term, lauded the president as "a dynamic leader" before bestowing the large gold trophy and medal. Trump then joined Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for the World Cup draw ceremony, ahead of the 2026 tournament jointly hosted by their nations.
The event closed with a performance by The Village People, prompting the 79-year-old president to perform his signature awkward dance to the anthem YMCA.
Press Pool Left Waiting as Scandals Brew
The celebratory atmosphere stood in stark contrast to the severe challenges facing the White House. Earlier that Friday, Trump had received an intelligence briefing likely detailing the controversial unauthorized naval war against 'narcoterrorists'.
A major scandal surrounds Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who reportedly ordered a strike on a capsized speedboat on 2 September. A second missile hit survivors, potentially violating century-old prohibitions against attacking the shipwrecked. Congressional committees are now demanding Hegseth's testimony, with some Republicans calling for his resignation.
Further troubles include plummeting approval ratings, a razor-thin Republican House majority at risk, and stalled peace efforts in Ukraine despite Trump's push for a pro-Moscow deal.
Measuring Drapes While the World Watches
As the FIFA event concluded, the White House press pool was ushered into vans, expecting to return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Instead, they waited for two and a half hours.
When journalists inquired about the delay, a White House official revealed the president was not engaged in crisis management. Instead, Trump was "looking at Kennedy Centre improvements" with Ric Grenell, his special envoy and the centre's interim president.
Trump had earlier boasted about the "really great renovation" since he installed himself as chairman of the board ten months prior. Only after this impromptu tour did the motorcade finally depart.
Upon returning to the Oval Office, Trump's personal attorney, Boris Ephsteyn, was seen waiting. The president had a single executive order to sign before preparing for another evening's entertainment, this time featuring a performance by Andrea Bocelli.
For a leader facing historic pressures, the day underscored a continued preference for pageantry and personal validation over the pressing affairs of state.
