US President Donald Trump broke his silence after the United States was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, 6 July, following a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16 in Seattle. However, in his social media post, Trump made no mention of the football team's performance or the tournament itself, instead focusing on military recruitment and political agenda.
Trump's Truth Social Post
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "The United States Military has never been stronger, or more powerful. No other Nation can do what we do (It's not even close!). This year we set even more Historic Recruiting Records, months ahead of schedule. Morale has never been higher." He continued: "Our Military's unmatched POWER was on full display during our Celebration of 250 Years of American Independence and, like our Country, the WAR DEPARTMENT has never been 'HOTTER.' We need to keep it that way, which is why, when Congress returns, we must pass Reconciliation 3.0, with 350 Billion Dollars for Defense, plus THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!"
Background: Trump's Intervention with FIFA
The US defeat came after Trump personally intervened with FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding a red card suspension for USMNT striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun was sent off during the Round-of-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina and faced an automatic one-game ban for the Belgium fixture. Following a phone call between Trump, White House World Cup task force executive director Andrew Giuliani, and Infantino, FIFA deferred the suspension, allowing Balogun to play. Trump had previously praised the decision on Truth Social, saying: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice."
Impact of the Defeat
The 4-1 loss to Belgium marked a disappointing early exit for the co-host nation, which had advanced from the group stage with a 2-1 win over Iran and a 1-1 draw with England. The defeat is seen as a setback for US soccer, especially given the high-profile nature of the tournament being held across North America. Trump's silence on the match has drawn attention, as he had previously engaged with World Cup matters through his intervention with FIFA.
