MSNBC's Katy Tur argued on Tuesday that Donald Trump tarnished the U.S. men’s national team’s now-ended World Cup campaign by intervening with FIFA to have star striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension overturned. Trump had “made us look like cheaters” and “ruined the vibes,” she suggested.
Tur's Critique of Trump's Intervention
“The U.S men’s team had captured America’s imagination and earned the respect of soccer fans around the world. And then came Belgium and, according to the internet, Donald Trump,” she said. Tur aired footage of various U.S. fans claiming in videos shared on social media that Trump had “cursed” the team with his intervention.
Impact on the Team's Performance
Tur noted how “on the field, the Americans were hesitant” in their 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16. “It’s not hard to imagine the global outrage over Trump’s call to FIFA might have weighed on them,” she continued. “You could frankly see the heaviness on Flo Balogun’s shoulders as he slowly made his way off the field.”
Global Reactions and Trolling
Tur also highlighted Belgium’s Trump-trolling victory celebrations, as well as anti-Trump chants from Australia fans. “This was supposed to be America’s moment, U.S. soccer’s moment, but instead of representing the rest of us, they spent the night answering for the worst of us,” she said.
