A letter published in The Palm Beach Post, Donald Trump's hometown newspaper, has criticized the president's intervention in a World Cup player's red-card suspension. The letter, written by David Clendining, expressed dismay at Trump's decision to urge FIFA to review U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's suspension.
Clendining's letter, headlined "Trump red flags World Cup," questioned the president's involvement, asking "Even soccer?" He argued that Trump had "put his stink on the World Cup" and "put his corrupt thumb on the scale," casting a "dark cloud" over the U.S. team's campaign.
The ban for Balogun was ultimately suspended after a review by a FIFA disciplinary official, allowing him to play in the Round of 16. However, the U.S. team was later eliminated after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium. According to reports, Belgian players subsequently mocked Trump both on and off the pitch.
Clendining, a resident of Loxahatchee, located near Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, suggested that Trump's actions tarnished what had been a "wonderful event."