A body language expert has weighed in on Donald Trump’s unexpected appearance during Chelsea FC’s celebrations after their FIFA Club World Cup victory on Sunday, offering insight into how the players reacted to the former president’s presence.
The match, held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, saw Chelsea dominate Paris Saint-Germain with a decisive 3-0 win.
Two first-half goals from Cole Palmer and a strike from new signing João Pedro secured a commanding lead, while PSG’s João Neves received a red card in the second half, worsening their situation.
After the final whistle, Trump joined FIFA president Gianni Infantino to present the trophy to Chelsea.
While Infantino stepped aside after the handover, Trump remained on the podium, posing for photos with the team and joining in on the celebrations — a move that many online viewers found awkward and inappropriate.
Social media users labeled the moment as “cringe” and “embarrassing,” questioning Trump’s involvement in the post-match event.
Body language specialist Darren Stanton analyzed the incident and gave his interpretation of how the Chelsea players responded.
Speaking to OLBGI, Stanton noted that team captain Reece James appeared unfazed by Trump’s presence.
“Reece James, who held the trophy first, seemed completely immersed in the moment. He was thrilled about the win and didn’t seem too concerned about who was standing next to him,” Stanton explained.
However, Stanton observed a different reaction from Cole Palmer, who stood just behind Trump during the celebrations.
“Palmer looks visibly confused. His expression says, ‘Why is this guy here?’ There’s a clear look of puzzlement and discomfort on his face,” Stanton said.
Stanton also analyzed Trump’s own body language, describing it as performative and lacking authenticity.
“Trump’s smile looks forced — what we call a masking smile. He appears to be trying to join in, almost like a dad at a wedding trying to look excited, but it’s not convincing. He makes these little fist pumps and hops, but it all seems very unnatural,” Stanton commented.
After the match, Cole Palmer echoed this confusion in his post-game remarks.
“I knew Trump would be at the match, but I didn’t expect him to be up there when we were lifting the trophy,” he admitted. “So, yeah, I was a bit surprised.”
The moment has since gone viral, sparking debate about whether Trump’s participation in the celebration was appropriate.
For many, it seemed less like support and more like an awkward attempt to share the spotlight.
