Trump Marks Shooting Anniversary At Club World Cup/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump marked one year since surviving an assassination attempt while attending the FIFA Club World Cup final. He praised the thrilling Chelsea win and credited divine intervention for saving his life. The event also provided a backdrop for diplomatic discussions on Gaza.
Trump’s Club World Cup Visit Quick Looks
- Trump attends FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey
- Marks anniversary of 2024 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania
- Joins Chelsea on-field to award Club World Cup trophy
- Hails doctors and rallygoers who saved lives last year
- Chelsea defeats PSG 3-0 with Cole Palmer starring
- Stadium crowd greets Trump with cheers and scattered boos
- Trump’s box includes Tom Brady, Rupert Murdoch, cabinet members
- Discusses Gaza ceasefire prospects with Qatari officials
- Trump plans to attend 2026 World Cup matches
- Sporting events dominate Trump’s domestic schedule
Deep Look
Trump Marks One-Year Anniversary Of Assassination Attempt During FIFA Club World Cup Final Celebration
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — President Donald Trump on Sunday commemorated the first anniversary of the assassination attempt that nearly claimed his life by immersing himself in the electric atmosphere of the FIFA Club World Cup final, where he joined players on the pitch, mingled with sports and political elites, and reflected on what he described as divine intervention that spared him to continue his mission for America.
At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived to a mix of roaring cheers and pockets of boos as the crowd filled in ahead of a pre-game concert featuring pop star Robbie Williams and Italian singer Laura Pausini. Once settled into a luxury suite alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his wife, Leena Al Ashqar, Trump turned his attention to the highly anticipated clash between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
The evening belonged to Chelsea, who delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over PSG. English sensation Cole Palmer shone brightly, netting two goals and setting up João Pedro for a third, effectively ending the Parisian club’s quest for a fourth major trophy this season. The match was witnessed by more than 80,000 fans, a lively scene that underscored soccer’s soaring popularity in the U.S. ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“It was an upset today, I guess,” Trump remarked to reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew back to Washington. “But it was a great match.”
After the final whistle, Trump descended to the field to congratulate the athletes, presenting PSG with their runner-up medals and awarding the championship trophy to Chelsea. The president also presented the Golden Ball award to Cole Palmer, praising the young star for his standout performance.
But for Trump, the evening also carried deeply personal resonance. Exactly a year earlier, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman attempted to assassinate the then-presidential candidate. Trump survived with only minor injuries, but the incident left a profound mark.
“It remains my firm conviction that God alone saved me that day for a righteous purpose: to restore our beloved Republic to greatness and to rescue our Nation from those who seek its ruin,” Trump said in a statement issued after he returned to Washington on Sunday night. He offered gratitude to doctors, first responders, and the rally attendees who helped maintain order during the chaos. “These men and women arrived at the rally grounds as ordinary Americans, but left as heroes,” he declared.
While the Club World Cup was ostensibly a sporting spectacle, it also became a stage for diplomacy. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, speaking briefly to reporters before kickoff, confirmed plans to meet with Qatari officials during the event to discuss ongoing efforts toward a Gaza ceasefire and hostage negotiations. Qatar has been acting as an intermediary with Hamas, and Witkoff’s presence underscored the intersection of sport and geopolitics at global events like the FIFA final.
“I’ll be meeting them,” Witkoff said when asked if he would engage with senior Gulf nation officials during the match.
Trump’s presence at the Club World Cup further cements the role of sports as a defining feature of his presidency since returning to the White House in January. The president has made high-profile appearances at major sporting events across the country, from the Super Bowl in New Orleans to NASCAR’s Daytona 500, UFC matches in Florida and New Jersey, and the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia. His advisors say these appearances allow him to connect with supporters and project an image of vigor and normalcy amid a turbulent political landscape.
Looking ahead, Trump has expressed enthusiasm about attending next year’s FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Preparations are in full swing for the tournament, though Trump has fanned diplomatic tensions with provocative comments suggesting that Canada should become America’s 51st state and sparring with neighbors over tariffs and immigration. Still, Trump insists these controversies will only add excitement to the global sporting event. “Tension’s a good thing,” he said earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s Club World Cup final highlighted both the president’s enduring star power and the lingering shadows of last year’s violence. As Trump waved to the crowd, saluted fans, and held aloft the trophy beside FIFA President Infantino, the juxtaposition was striking: a leader reveling in international pageantry while privately recalling the day he narrowly escaped death.
For Trump, the evening was both celebration and solemn remembrance—a symbol of resilience and a reminder of the turbulent political environment that continues to define his presidency. And as Chelsea basked in the glow of their global triumph, the president departed MetLife Stadium carrying the weight of unfinished business—on the soccer field, in the halls of diplomacy, and in the ever-contentious arena of American politics.
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