Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) made things awkward for Donald Trump on Monday during an Oval Office press conference by breathlessly praising the president’s meddling in the World Cup.
American star forward Folarin Balogun was supposed to be suspended for Monday’s game against Belgium after receiving a red card during last Wednesday’s game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
However, FIFA lifted the suspension on Sunday after Trump intervened by asking officials to review the call despite there being no official appeals process for the automatic one-game ban.
Still, FIFA reversed Balogun’s red card by citing an article in its disciplinary code that says a “judicial body” can “fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
But while Trump seemed happy with FIFA’s decision, he apparently wanted to keep his influence on the down low.
So he didn’t appear too thrilled when Cruz publicly praised the president’s efforts to reverse the red card during a press conference to promote Trump Accounts, a new federal savings account for children.
In fact, Cruz seemed to give up the game when he told reporters, “On behalf of all Americans, thank you for getting rid of that ridiculous red card.”
His remark was followed by nervous laughter from the other participants and a pained smile from Trump.
“That was interesting,” Trump responded, with the same intensity Southern people have when they say, “bless your heart.”
Cruz: On behalf of all Americans, thank you for getting rid of that ridiculous red card.
President Trump: That was interesting.
Cruz: It was spectacular. There was a reason the FIFA trophy sat here for as long as it did pic.twitter.com/LoCwAvWLuu
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 6, 2026
Trump was apparently miffed by Cruz’s compliment, as it appeared to suggest undue influence on his part. So he attempted damage control.
“All I did was ask for a review,” he insisted. “I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this.’”
Read more Trump Calls World Cup Ref ‘Very Suspect’ While Confirming Red Card Intervention
But the exchange seemed to provide soccer fans on social media with evidence of possible shenanigans between Trump and FIFA.
Has no one told these idiots that you don’t publicly gloat when your corruption succeeds? https://t.co/wvI7TxotZM
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) July 6, 2026
“Thank you for your corruption” is the new “thank for your service “. https://t.co/l0xW5qTuMb
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) July 6, 2026
Republicans are laughing about how corrupt FIFA is and how it benefits the U.S. https://t.co/JCpxHErzCj
— Hemant Mehta (@hemantmehta) July 6, 2026
And there it is, the confession in broad daylight. A sitting senator thanking the president for personally overturning a FIFA decision. The clearest proof yet that the US could not host a World Cup without their crying president calling FIFA every time their soft men’s team faces… https://t.co/Shq5dZzvsx
— Gandalv (@Microinteracti1) July 6, 2026
Insane….now they’re just openly praising Trump’s and FIFA’s blatant corruption https://t.co/4QbHt0eZS3
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) July 6, 2026
Congratulations world. You’ve let him normalise corruption so much so that they laugh about it in public. They all genuinely make me sick. https://t.co/xEeYvf9sAT
— Annemarie Dray (@AnnemarieDray) July 6, 2026
ted cruz wants to joke about this while everyone else is like please shut the fuck up and stop implicating us https://t.co/vHk5wX9mkE
— manny (@mannyfidel) July 6, 2026
Remember when the adults used to caution that cheaters never prosper? I do. And I miss it dearly. https://t.co/qOrFzNDlCI
— Jennifer Erin Valent 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@JenniferEValent) July 6, 2026
This obsequious little cunt has never watched a second of football in his miserable fucking life. But more than that, he’s just totally confirmed Trump’s role in the overturning of Balogun’s red card. https://t.co/SOvW9qUeoS
Read more French Court Clears Way For Far-Right Leader Le Pen To Run In 2027 But Under A Condition She Rejects
— Moog (@a_toots) July 6, 2026
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