US president Donald Trump has lingered on stage to keep himself in Spain’s triumphant victory shot at the World Cup final.
Trump and FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino presented the medals to the referees, Spain and Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday (Monday AEST).
And the pair carried the trophy over to Spain captain Rodri together — but only Infantino made way for the famous lift.
Trump hung around and pumped his fists at Spain players before eventually making his way to the side, helped along by an awkward Infantino intervention across the front of the stage.
“They can edit him out of that,” SBS host Claudio Fabiano was heard saying in a hot-mic moment.
Trump was always expected to present the trophy, which is not uncommon.
Queen Elizabeth II presented the trophy to England captain Bobby Moore in 1966.
Argentina’s dictator Jorge Videla handed it to Daniel Passerella in 1978.
In 2018, Russian president Vladimir Putin was on the stage under an umbrella when France captain Hugo Lloris received the trophy from Infantino in teeming rain.
In 2022, the Emir of Qatar and Infantino together presented Lionel Messi with football’s biggest prize.
This time it was also expected that Trump would attempt to keep himself on stage.
He was widely mocked last year when he hogged the podium after Chelsea demolished Paris St Germain in the Club World Cup final at the same stadium in New Jersey.
After that game, Chelsea players celebrated with the trophy while Trump just stood there despite Infantino urging the president to depart the stage.
— with AAP
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails