Chelsea star Cole Palmer appeared visibly confused after spotting U.S. President Donald Trump during the Club World Cup trophy presentation, sparking widespread reaction from fans online.
The Premier League club secured the FIFA Club World Cup title on Sunday with a commanding 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. A brace from Palmer and a goal from João Pedro sealed the victory for Enzo Maresca’s side.
However, it wasn’t just the on-pitch performance grabbing headlines. During the post-match trophy ceremony, players were joined on stage by 79-year-old Trump, who remained alongside the squad as they lifted the trophy.
Footage of Palmer’s reaction to Trump’s presence quickly went viral on social media. The 23-year-old forward looked visibly surprised as Chelsea captain Reece James stepped forward to hoist the Club World Cup.
Fans quickly decoded what they believed to be Palmer’s reaction, with many lip-reading him uttering the words: “What’s he doing?”
One viewer commented: “Palmer: ‘What’s he doing?’” while another wrote: “He was surprised as well as confused.” A third added: “You can literally see Cole Palmer visibly confused at Trump being there, you can’t make this up.”
Another fan said: “Chelsea trying to celebrate winning the World Cup with Trump in the way is FRYING ME. Cole Palmer: ‘What’s he doing?’”
Speaking after the match, Palmer confirmed he hadn’t expected Trump to appear on stage with the team.
“I knew he was going to be here but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy,” Palmer told The Independent. “I was a bit confused, yeah.”
Reflecting on Chelsea’s performance, Palmer added: “It’s a great feeling. Even better because everyone doubted us before the game, we knew that. To put a fight on like we did, it’s good.”
He also praised manager Enzo Maresca’s tactical preparation: “The gaffer put a great gameplan out. He knew where the space was going to be. He tried to free me up as much as possible and I just had to repay him and score some goals.”
While Chelsea celebrated their latest international success, it was Palmer’s candid reaction that offered an unexpected (and highly relatable) moment for fans watching around the world.