Politics
Trump Personally Called FIFA President to Overturn Red Card for U.S. Player
Reality Check with Ross Coulthart
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"And then he says he asked Infantino for FIFA to do this review that did end up happening. And all of this, though, I think the timeline is key now that unfortunately the U.S. has lost. I think it's important for us to look back at the timeline of how that red card actually got overturned, because on Wednesday the White House FIFA task force director, who is Andrew Giuliani, told President Trump about the suspension. About the red card. Then you saw Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick even getting involved. And they put together this legal team to make an appeal. President Trump got the FIFA president on the phone Thursday. And then fast-forward a couple of days to yesterday, that red card was overturned."
White House correspondent Libby Dean confirmed that President Trump directly intervened in the World Cup by calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of a red card suspension for U.S. player Balogun. The White House mobilized a legal team, including Andrew Giuliani and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, to overturn the ruling—an unprecedented move that drew international criticism. Critics allege Trump used political influence to benefit Team USA, setting a dangerous precedent for host nations interfering in international sports.
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Reality Check with Ross Coulthart