EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (BN24) — President Donald Trump commemorated the first anniversary of the assassination attempt that nearly took his life by attending the FIFA Club World Cup final, where Chelsea overpowered Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 to claim the title.
Trump, joined by first lady Melania Trump, family members, and close advisers, arrived at MetLife Stadium on Sunday to a mix of cheers and scattered boos. The couple took their seats in a luxury box suite alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, NFL legend Tom Brady, media executive Rupert Murdoch, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and several Cabinet secretaries.
The evening’s spectacle began with musical performances by Robbie Williams and Laura Pausini before Chelsea raced out to an early lead, with Cole Palmer scoring twice and João Pedro adding a third before halftime. PSG, fresh off a treble-winning season, never found their footing.
After the final whistle, Trump walked onto the field to congratulate both squads, presenting PSG players with their runners-up medals and handing the trophy to Chelsea as the English club celebrated their second Club World Cup championship.
Sunday’s match fell precisely one year after the July 7 attempt on Trump’s life at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In an interview that aired Saturday with his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, the president spoke briefly about the anniversary, noting he preferred to focus on moving forward rather than dwelling on the attack.
Last week, the Secret Service disclosed that six agents had been disciplined with suspensions of up to 42 days over security lapses connected to the incident. Trump expressed continued trust in the agency, saying, “I have great confidence in these people. I know the people, and they’re very talented, very capable.”
The Club World Cup final also offered a backdrop for high-level diplomatic talks. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed he planned meetings during the match with senior Qatari officials involved in negotiations over a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release efforts.
“I’ll be meeting them,” Witkoff said, nodding when asked if the talks would include Hamas intermediaries from Qatar.
MetLife Stadium, which will host the 2026 World Cup final, served as a preview of what’s to come as North America readies for the tournament. Trump has already declared plans to attend multiple matches across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico next summer.
The president has also used sporting events to cement his public presence since taking office in January. In addition to Sunday’s soccer showcase, Trump has attended the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, UFC bouts in Florida and New Jersey, and the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia.
Despite rising tensions with Canada and Mexico over tariffs and immigration — and his controversial remarks suggesting Canada should become America’s 51st state — Trump insisted the friction would only add to the tournament’s drama.
“Tension’s a good thing,” he said earlier this year.
