Donald Trump Defends FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Calls Potential Ouster a ‘Terrible Mistake

Trump Issues Stark Warning on FIFA Leadership

United States President Donald Trump issued a strong defense of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stating that global football’s governing body would commit a “terrible mistake” if it chose to replace him. The endorsement, published on Truth Social, comes as Infantino faces mounting criticism and an open letter from several member associations accusing him of fraud.

Scrutiny Mounts Over Financial and Personal Controversies

Infantino has drawn intense scrutiny in recent weeks over a proposed plan to sell tournament stakes to outside investors. The proposal reportedly attracted interest from Joshua Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Additional pressure mounted following reports from The Telegraph alleging that Infantino paid a financial settlement to a woman with whom he had an affair during his tenure as UEFA general secretary.

Praise for World Cup Success and Past Alliances

Despite the controversy, Donald Trump praised the FIFA chief on social media, writing, “He is fantastic.” The U.S. President added that Infantino had just overseen the most successful World Cup in history, describing the tournament as “four times as successful” as any previous edition. “If he leaves, it will never be as successful or profitable again,” Trump wrote.

The relationship between the two leaders includes previous diplomatic acknowledgments. During Infantino’s tenure leading FIFA, Donald Trump received the organization’s inaugural “Peace Prize,” remaining the sole recipient of the accolade to date. The two figures appeared together publicly weeks ago to hand out the World Cup trophy following the tournament final.

National Associations Rally Opposition Against Upcoming Term

Opposition to Infantino’s leadership has solidified across several national organizations. A significant number of football associations, including the Swedish Football Association, announced they do not support Infantino running for another term in upcoming elections.