The US president bragged about ‘saving millions of lives’ in a brazen speech after FIFA boss Giovanni Infantino handed him a ‘peace price’ at the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony
Donald Trump made a strange move when he was awarded FIFA’s first ever ‘peace prize’ at a baffling cermony, according to an expert.
Viewers were left gobsmacked after FIFA boss Giovanni Infantino announced the award, before detailing Trump’s achievements on stage. The accolade was presented at the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. The US president went on to claim in a bizarre speech that he had saved ‘millions of lives’ as he boasted about his accomplishments.
The governing body swiftly announced the gong in early November, just weeks after Trump was snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize. There was said to be no selection process at all, with candidates not publicly named. Gushing over the Republican leader, Infantino told Trump: “You definitely deserve the first FIFA peace prize for your action.” The US leader was also handed a medal, which he wore for the rest of the ceremony.
READ MORE: Donald Trump gifted first ever FIFA Peace Prize and claims he’s saved ‘millions’
“This is truly one of the great honours of my life,” Trump said on stage. “We’ve saved millions and millions of lives, the Congo is an example – with over 10 million people killed, heading for another 10 million very quickly. India-Pakistan. Some wars we’ve ended just before they started.”
In his speech, the US president added: “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.
He continued: “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.
“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.”
Proving just how much he was lapping up the controversial award, Trump’s mannerisms reflected that of an actor recieving an Oscar, according to body language guru Judi James. She tells The Mirror: “As he is relentlessly fan-boyed by Infantino here, Trump adopts the ultimate pose of the senior statesman, his jaw set firm, his lips clamped and pulled down at the corners and his arms straight at his sides, although leaning towards the front of his torso giving the impression the medal he’s wearing is heavy around his neck.”
Analysing his speech, the expert continues: “Were this pose and this speech off-the-peg ones he had waiting oven ready for the Noble audience? He nods sagely in agreement at his fulsome praise but he also looks reflective as though planning how he can add to the list of his achievements when it’s his turn to speak. His tone when he does is a soft growl of seriousness as he calls the medal ‘The greatest honor of my life’.”
James notes that while Trump’s address was full of macho glory-hunting energy, his demeanour shifted when he mentioned Melania. She explains: “He of course starts his pitch for peace-keeper glory before turning his words into some kind of Oscar acceptance speech here, thanking and honoring Melania by throwing his hand out to where she sits in the audience then, in an act of humility and respect for her, lowers his eyes and his mic to allow for her own bout of applause here.”
Trump also ruffled feathers by suggesting that the United States should rename American Football to something else. “When you look at what is happening to football in the United States – Soccer in the United States – we seem to never call it that because we have another conflict with another thing called football,” he said. “But when you think about it, this is football, there’s no question about it. We have to come up with another name for the NFL stuff. It really doesn’t make sense when you think about it.”
Infatino and Trump have become closer in recent years, with FIFA forced to explain their relationship. Their statement to CCN read: “Since the awarding of the United Bid for Canada, Mexico and United States to host the FIFA World Cup 2026, the FIFA President has enjoyed a strong relationship with President Trump, along with leaders from fellow co-hosts Canada and Mexico. This has resulted in close collaboration leading to the formation of the White House Task Force for the FIFA World Cup.”