Trump may skip World Cup final trophy presentation as Epstein chants spread through stadiums

Donald Trump may not present the trophy at the World Cup final on July 19, with White House officials reportedly scrambling to limit his exposure to fan chants linking him to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that have spread through stadiums and bars hosting the tournament.

Concern inside Trump’s team is said to be high enough that aides are considering steering the president away from matches involving English-speaking nations, where the chants have taken firmest hold. Supporters from England, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand have all produced songs referencing Trump’s long-documented friendship with Epstein, and the material has circulated widely before and during games.

A source familiar with the situation told the Mirror: “There isn’t a fan alive who doesn’t know how fragile Trump’s ego is. In recent months, he has had to contend with widespread booing whenever he attends major sporting events in America, but this is another level entirely. His staff are in crisis mode trying to prevent the President from being exposed to the chants in person, and that includes avoiding matches involving English-speaking teams.”

The chants draw on Trump’s well-documented social ties to Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. The two men moved in overlapping circles throughout the 1980s and 1990s and were photographed together on multiple occasions. In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, Trump described Epstein as a “terrific guy” who was “a lot of fun to be with”.

Trump has since sought to distance himself from Epstein, saying the pair fell out years before Epstein’s criminal convictions and claiming he barred him from his Mar-a-Lago estate. The issue has re-entered the political spotlight amid continuing controversy over the release of Epstein-related court documents and investigative files. Trump’s name, alongside those of numerous other public figures, has appeared in released records, though inclusion in such documents does not constitute evidence of criminal conduct or wrongdoing.

The president has faced a pattern of hostile receptions at high-profile sporting events in the United States. A recent appearance at a New York Knicks NBA playoff game drew audible booing from the crowd, an episode cited by insiders as a precursor to the atmosphere now building around the World Cup.

Lead broadcasters covering the tournament are understood to have already been made aware of the chants being heard at venues. No formal decision on Trump’s attendance at the final has been publicly announced.