At 4.38pm on 28 June, Donald Trump posted a Truth Social message about the World Cup, noting that attendance figures for the tournament in the US, Mexico, and Canada had reached 4.6 million spectators, breaking records. This rare mention of the event stood out because the president has been largely absent from the global spectacle, attending no matches and making few public statements about the tournament.
Trump's silence is a tactical choice, according to observers. His usual strategy of flooding the zone with constant, bombastic commentary has been set aside. Instead, he has avoided the limelight, likely to prevent being booed—as he was at the NBA Finals in New York last month—and to avoid the political friction that the World Cup's multicultural and inclusive nature might provoke.
Historical Precedent and Strategic Silence
The approach mirrors Vladimir Putin's during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Putin attended matches but remained largely mute, presenting an image of openness and order. Similarly, Trump's absence may be an attempt to avoid controversy during a globally watched event. There have been no visible Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdowns near host cities, and tensions with Iran have cooled.
Trump's thin-skinned nature also plays a role. He avoids regions where he is unpopular, such as California and the West Coast, which have hosted all US games so far. On Wednesday, his Special Presidential Envoy for American Tourism, Exceptionalism and Values announced that Trump would attend the USA vs. Belgium match in Seattle, but this remains unconfirmed.
Football's Resistance to Political Will
The nature of football itself may contribute to Trump's distance. The sport, despite its corporate gloss, remains resistant to political manipulation. The US men's team is notably diverse and multicultural, reflecting the country's immigrant populations. This clashes with Trump's rhetoric of exclusion and demonization. The women's team has also had bruising interactions with him.
As the tournament progresses, the dominant image is of mixed-heritage teams performing under one flag, a symbol that Trump likely wishes to avoid. His absence is a form of sportswashing—a tactical vacating of the zone—and an admission of wariness. Football, for all its flaws, will not bend to his will.
