7 unhinged Donald Trump moments as FIFA offers him a made-up ‘peace prize’ and a medal
Following a deeply phoned in performance by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, Trump took to the stage at the FIFA World Cup Draw to get the equivalent of a participation medal made of bottle tops
Donald Trump hasn’t yet been able to coax Nobel into giving him a peace prize. But you know who has recognised his ability to get people to say they’ll stop fighting to avoid a threat of tariffs? FIFA. That’s right. That well-known humanitarian organisation and also football governing body has invented a peace prize so that boss Gianni Infantino can give it to Donald Trump. It’s a bit like when the Brits invented the “Global Success” award in 2013 in order to give it to One Direction, except many, many times more corrupt.
Trump will be given the “award” at the World Cup draw, to take place at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC this afternoon.
Meanwhile in Trumpworld
- Trump got a made up award from FIFA
- And a medal
- He counted one of his stopped wars twice
- He dramatically expanded his travel ban
- Melania turned the Christmas lights on while Trump ranted about the election
Here’s everything you need to know
1. FIFA gave Trump a made up award
Trump was given a massive gold trophy to mark the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during a star studded (sort of) event at the Kennedy Centre. Ahead of the draw, Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger sang the official world cup song in a performance so phoned in that Robbie had his hand in his pocket throughout. The trophy, shaped a bit like the World Cup trophy, but stubbier and with more fingers, was handed to the US President by FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, who told Trump: “You definitely deserve the first FIFA peace prize for your action.” Trump was also given a medal for being such a special boy, which he wore for the rest of the ceremony.
If anything the funniest bit was when Infantino claimed it would be an “annual” award.
2. Trump said it was “one of the great honours of my life”
In a very brief set of remarks, Trump claimed being given a made-up prize was “truly one of the great honours of my life.”
“We’ve saved millions and millions of lives, over 10million people killed, heading for another 10million very quickly. India-Pakistan. Wars, some wars just before they started,” he said – much of which is only vaguely true. “It’s an honour to be with Gianni. I’ve known Gianni so long. He’s set so many records.”“I want to thank my family, my great First Lady, Melania, right here, thank you very much. And I think we’re going to have an event, maybe the likes of which the world has never seen. We have a great working relationship with Canada and the prime minister of Canada is there. We have our president of Mexico there, and we’ve worked closely with those two countries and the coordination and friendship and relationship has been outstanding. And I want to thank you both and your countries very much.”
He went on: “Most importantly, I just want to thank everybody. The world is a safer place now. The United States a year ago was not doing too well. Now it’s the hottest country anywhere in the world right now. And we’re going to keep it that way. Gianni, thank you.”
3. Why again?
Trump and Gianni Infantino are buds and have been for some time. Perhaps they see each other as kindred spirits in some way, who can say. But whatever the reason, Infantino should probably get an award for being the best in the world at sucking up to Donald Trump. One time when he visited the Oval Office he brought the actual World Cup, saying only the winners usually get to touch it – but that he’d bend the rules for Trump, because he’s such a winner. He also basically gave the Club World Cup Trophy to Trump.
Infantino pointedly giving Trump a medal may well be a reference to his behaviour at the Club World Cup final, where he appeared to pocket one of the winners’ medals.
4. He’s dramatically expanding the travel ban
In other news, the Homeland Security secretary says the Trump administration is expanding its travel ban from 19 to more than 30 countries. Kristi Noem wouldn’t say which countries would be included in the expansion as she spoke in an interview late Thursday with Fox News Channel host Laura Ingraham. Trump is “continuing to evaluate countries,” Noem said. “If they don’t have a stable government there, if they don’t have a country that can sustain itself and tell us who those individuals are and help us vet them, why should we allow people from that country to come here to the United States?”
5. Trump lets Melania turn on the tree as he rants about the 2020 election
Trump gave a speech in Washington DC last night as the White House Christmas tree was lit. Melania did the honours and flipped the switch. Of course, Trump used it as an opportunity to moan about the Election.
“We have the World Cup, and we have the Olympics coming up all within this four-year period,” he said. “See, if they didn’t rig the election I would have been sitting…can you imagine? I wouldn’t have had any of them. And I probably wouldn’t have been invited. I would have been very upset by that.”
Silver linings, eh?
6. Trump claims he ‘ended’ another war – but there’s a problem
Trump, during his speech, claimed to have “ended” another war – his ninth – after Rwanda and Congo signed a peace pact during a visit to the White House – which includes incentives for the US to access critical minerals in both countries.
“We just settled another war today,” he said. “You saw that, with Rwanda and the Congo. It’s been going on for 34 years.”
Two problems. He already counted Rwanda and Congo agreeing to respect a ceasefire, back in June. It was one of the seven “wars” he claimed to have “stopped”. Of course, the ceasefire was broken and fighting resumed. Not sure you get to say you ended the same war twice.
Secondly, according to the New York Times there is absolutely no indication whatsoever that the “deal” has had any effect on the ongoing killings in the region. Great work, President of Peace.
7. Wayne Gretzky was there for some reason
Trump interrupted his speech to announce that legendary Ice Hockey player was, for some reason, in attendance at the tree-lighting. You miss all the shots you don’t take, I suppose. Also what’s left of the Beach Boys were there.
