Former US President Donald Trump was captured on camera delivering a playful four-word instruction to his wife, Melania, during a lively ceremony for the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in Washington.
A Jovial Mood at the Kennedy Centre
The 79-year-old was in high spirits at the John F. Kennedy Center on Friday, 5th December 2025, where he received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. The event, which also featured performances from Robbie Williams and Lauryn Hill, saw Trump enthusiastically dancing when the Village People took to the stage to perform their iconic hit, 'YMCA'.
According to expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman, Trump first turned to fellow dignitaries, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and remarked, "I missed them playing here." Swaying to the beat, he then enthused to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, "Gianni, this makes me happy, I missed them so much."
The Cheeky Command to the First Lady
The moment that has since captured public attention came when Trump glanced towards his 55-year-old wife, Melania, who maintained a composed expression. Freeman reported that the former president declared, "Look at it, great job."
Not content with her reserved demeanour, Trump later issued a more direct, playful prompt. During another point in the performance, he was seen urging the former first lady to participate more actively, stating clearly, "Come on, join in."
A History with the YMCA
Trump is famously associated with the YMCA dance, having used the track extensively at his political rallies. Earlier in 2025, the Village People performed live at his presidential inauguration.
Victor Willis, the group's frontman, told Fox & Friends last year that he believes Trump uses the song because he "genuinely" loves it. Willis added, "[Trump] seemed to be bringing so much joy to the American people with this use of YMCA."
Following the award presentation, where he was handed an enormous trophy, Trump was spotted in the audience enjoying a sing-along with Melania by his side.
Accepting the FIFA Peace Prize
Upon receiving the peace award, Trump proclaimed it was "truly one of the great honours of my life". He elaborated on his administration's record, stating, "Beyond awards, we saved millions and millions of lives. The fact that we could do that, so many different wars that were able to end in some cases right before they started, it was great to get them done."
He thanked his family, specifically "my great first lady Melania", and boldly predicted the upcoming World Cup would be an event "the likes of which the world has never seen". Trump concluded by asserting, "The world is a safer place now, the United States a year ago was not doing too well and it's the hottest place anywhere right now."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino justified the accolade, citing Trump's "unwavering commitment to advancing peace and unity throughout the world".
In a lighter moment during the star-studded event, which also included celebrities like Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum, Trump quipped about American football terminology. He remarked, "We have to find another name for the NFL. This is football, we call it soccer here in the USA, but it really is football. It doesn't make sense that we call it soccer."
