As Donald Trump joined Chelsea FC to celebrate their victory at the FIFA Club World Cup final, a lip reading specialist revealed her insights on the conversation that occurred.
The POTUS watched Chelsea defeat Paris Saint-German at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, July 13, to ensure their victory.
Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino picked up the gleaming trophy and carried it to the team, which included Chelsea captain Reece James, after Chelsea won the match 3-0.
Viewers characterised the incident as “absolutely embarrassing” as the president did hand up the trophy, but Trump remained standing next to the team as they joyfully hopped up and down as Infantino pulled himself out of the camera.
Following the embarrassing incident, Nicola Hickling, a lip reading specialist, provided analysis of the exchange on behalf of OLBG.
She explained that talisman Cole Palmer looked ‘visibly confused’ by Trump’s decision to stand with the team as they lifted the trophy, prompting him to turn and ask, “Can you ask him to move this way?… wait, what’s going on?”
Hickling then expressed belief that Trump wanted ‘to hold the trophy with Reece James’, prompting James to say: “I got this”
James is said to have said, “It’s actually heavy,” as he glances at Robert Sanchez.
Then Trump, speaking to Sanchez, reportedly says: “What? Let’s go.”
At that point, Sanchez takes a step forward with what Hickling describes as a ‘calming wave and direction’, saying, “On the count of three, come on, come on.”
After the game, Palmer admitted in an interview that he was caught off guard by Trump’s actions during the celebration, saying, “I knew he was going to be there, but I didn’t know he was going be on the stand where we lift the trophy. So, I was a bit confused.”
According to the Guardian, the awkward moment at the trophy presentation wasn’t the only incident from the FIFA Club World Cup final. The POTUS was jeered by spectators when he appeared on video boards during the game.
“He’s got such a fake smile, a masking smile, it’s almost like a dad at a wedding, he’s trying to show excitement, but he’s like a fish out of water,” body language expert Darren Stanton said in his own reflection of the events, expressing his conviction that Trump was “disingenuous” during his presence.
“Trump makes these kinds of fist gestures and jumps up and down. I just think Trump is trying his best to get involved in the excitement, but not really authentic.”
