President Donald Trump handed Spain‘s football team the World Cup trophy on Sunday. The ceremony came less than two weeks after he publicly trashed the country at a NATO press conference, creating an extraordinarily uncomfortable diplomatic spectacle.
Donald Trump called Spain ‘wasted cause’ days before World Cup final
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final, claiming their second World Cup title. Trump awarded medals and gave the iconic gold trophy to the victorious players, a duty arranged weeks before anyone knew which nation would win.
However, on July 8, Donald Trump, alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Ankara, Turkey, unleashed a furious condemnation of Spain. He accused Madrid of shortchanging the alliance and demanded an immediate severing of economic ties.
“Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore, by the way. I’d like to cut it off,” Trump told reporters. He called the country a “terrible partner in NATO” and insisted Spanish leaders neither participate nor contribute adequately.
Furthermore, he did not stop at policy criticism. He appeared to broaden his attack to the Spanish people themselves. “We don’t have to trade with them. I don’t want to do any more trade with them. Make it immediately. Don’t even talk to them. They’re hopeless. Bad people,” he said. Trump pushed further still, demanding an end to all visits and any form of engagement.
Trump handing the trophy to the Spanish team drew attention. FIFA president Gianni Infantino appeared to usher Trump away from the podium as the players started celebrating. Trump then stood at the corner and posed with the team for the group photo.
