President Donald Trump broke his silence after the United States was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup, but his first public statement avoided any mention of the team's crushing 4-1 round of 16 defeat to Belgium on July 6 in Seattle. Instead, Trump used his Truth Social platform to tout the strength of the U.S. military and call for increased defense spending.
Trump's Post-Match Statement Focuses on Military
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump declared: "The United States Military has never been stronger, or more powerful. No other Nation can do what we do (It’s not even close!)." He highlighted recruiting records and the "unmatched POWER" displayed during the Celebration of 250 Years of American Independence. Trump then urged Congress to pass "Reconciliation 3.0" with $350 billion for defense, along with the "Save America Act," calling it the number one priority.
The post made no reference to the World Cup match or the team's performance, despite Trump having been highly vocal about the tournament earlier.
Controversy Over Balogun Red Card
Just one day before the loss, Trump had personally intervened in a FIFA disciplinary matter involving U.S. star striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun received a red card in the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would have triggered an automatic one-match suspension for the Belgium game. Trump and White House World Cup task force executive director Andrew Giuliani spoke directly with FIFA President Gianni Infantino by phone, resulting in the suspension being postponed.
FIFA confirmed on Sunday that the punishment had been suspended, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium. Trump thanked FIFA in a previous Truth Social post, writing: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice."
World Cup Exit and Future
The United States, co-host of the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, was eliminated in the round of 16 after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium. The loss marks an early exit for the host nation, which had advanced from the group stage with a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Trump's post-match silence on the game has drawn attention, given his earlier enthusiastic commentary on the team's chances and his direct involvement in the Balogun case.
