Donald Trump, at 80 years old, took to Truth Social to declare Harry Kane a "GREAT player!!!" after England's stunning victory over Mexico in the World Cup.
Kane scored England's third goal, sealing a 3-2 win at the Azteca Stadium. This came after Anthony Gordon earned a penalty and just moments after defender Jarell Quansah was sent off following a VAR review for a reckless challenge.
Fans stayed up late to witness the match, with the stadium packed with England supporters. Trump appeared to be among those captivated by the Three Lions' historic performance.
England advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals, with Jude Bellingham igniting the scoring with two goals in quick succession during the first half. Mexico managed to respond with a goal from Julian Quinones, but the intensity ramped up after halftime.
After Quansah's red card in the 54th minute, Kane quickly restored England's two-goal lead with a penalty kick, even as they played with ten men. Mexico's Raul Jimenez also converted a penalty, but Jordan Pickford stood strong against Mexico's relentless attack, keeping the score at 3-2.
Kane described the match as "a crazy game," emphasizing the team's resilience despite facing adversity. His penalty marked his sixth goal of the tournament and 14th in World Cup history, tying him with Gerd Müller for fifth on the all-time scoring list.
Trump's unexpected shout-out to Kane isn't his first involvement in this tournament. He also commented on FIFA's controversial decision regarding Folarin Balogun, who was allowed to play against Belgium despite a prior red card. FIFA replaced Balogun's one-match suspension with a year-long probationary period.
Trump expressed gratitude on Truth Social, thanking FIFA for reversing what he called "a great injustice." The Belgian Football Association reacted angrily, stating they were "astonished" by FIFA's ruling that allowed Balogun to participate in the match.
Reports indicate that an official from the White House contacted FIFA to urge a reassessment of Balogun's red card. FIFA insists their decision was not influenced by this communication.
