Trump Again Brings Up Election Fraud Theory at FIFA Event: "I Shouldn't Be Here"

Emphasizing "Rigged Election" Claims Over 2020 Presidential Defeat

U.S. President Donald Trump continued to promote his theory of a "rigged election" during a FIFA event held ahead of the final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America.

During his speech at the FIFA reception held in Manhattan, New York, President Trump stated that he was the sitting president when the United States, along with Mexico and Canada, successfully won the bid to host this World Cup in 2018. He remarked, "I shouldn't be here right now," referring to the fact that after losing the 2020 presidential election and being re-elected in 2024, he is serving a second term as president during the year the World Cup takes place.

He reiterated his claim that he should have served as president for eight consecutive years and asserted, "They rigged the election," blaming his 2020 election defeat on electoral fraud. He then added, "So, what did I get? I got the World Cup. I even got the Olympics (which will be held in 2028)."

U.S. President Donald Trump. White House

In a nationally televised address the previous night, President Trump again repeated his claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged, announcing the results of a U.S. government investigation which found that China intervened in the election to ensure his defeat.

During the World Cup, President Trump addressed the "Save Balogun" controversy, saying, "The most unforgettable moment was when that player (U.S. forward Folarin Balogun) was shown a red card." He explained the situation again, adding, "So I had no choice but to call Gianni," referring to a call with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, with whom he is known to have a close personal relationship. Infantino was reportedly standing next to President Trump during his speech.

Balogun received a red card for stepping on an opposing player's ankle during the Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which resulted in his suspension from the Round of 16. However, FIFA granted a one-year deferment of the ban, allowing him to participate in the Round of 16 match against Belgium. Reports indicate that President Trump called President Infantino to request a review of the decision, sparking controversy.

President Trump emphasized during his call with Infantino that his suggestion was, "Gianni, I want to make a proposal," and insisted that he did not ask for the player to be allowed to continue playing. He added, "In the end, what happened turned out much better," explaining, "Their team won the match and our team lost."

He also joked that President Infantino had said, "Next time, China and the United States might co-host," to which President Trump replied, "Then it would just require a very short flight between matches, which the players would appreciate."

President Trump is staying at his private residence in New Jersey this weekend and is scheduled to attend the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at the New York–New Jersey Stadium on July 19.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.