Martina Navratilova blasts Donald Trump with two-word condemnation after World Cup final antics

Martina Navratilova, the 18-time Grand Slam champion, fired off a two-word condemnation of Donald Trump after the US president’s controversial actions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey.

On 18 July 2026, Spain beat Argentina 1-0 at MetLife Stadium thanks to Ferran Torres’ 87th-minute winner. After Trump presented the trophy to Spain’s captain Rodri, he refused to step aside as the team celebrated, prompting FIFA President Gianni Infantino to sprint toward him in an apparent attempt to remove him from the frame.

What happened in the World Cup final?

Spain claimed their second World Cup title with a narrow victory over Argentina in front of 82,000 fans at MetLife Stadium. Ferran Torres’ late strike sealed the win, but the post-match celebrations were overshadowed by Trump’s refusal to exit the stage.

Trump handed the trophy to Rodri, then stayed in shot as the Spanish squad erupted in celebration. Video of the moment went viral, showing Infantino hurrying toward Trump, who remained planted beside the jubilant players.

Why did Martina Navratilova react?

Navratilova, a vocal critic of Trump’s administration, took to X to call him an ‘effing moron’ after the video spread online. Her two-word condemnation capped days of debate over Trump’s political interference in the tournament.

Days earlier, Trump had falsely claimed he made calls to overturn Folarin Balogun’s red card during the US’s Round of 16 exit. Belgium thrashed the Americans 4-1, and memes mocking Trump’s involvement flooded social media.

What’s next for the Spanish team and Trump?

The Spanish Football Federation cropped Trump out of their official World Cup-winning photo. In the image posted by the federation, the US president is absent from the frame.

Trump’s presence at the final followed a similar incident last December, when he handed Chelsea’s trophy to Reece James after their Club World Cup win. Cole Palmer later admitted he was ‘confused’ by Trump’s lingering.

How has Navratilova responded to Trump before?

Navratilova, who fled communist Czechoslovakia in 1975 at 18, has been a consistent critic of Trump. She became a US citizen in 1981 and has joined protests against his policies.

During the World Cup, she mocked Trump’s claims of overturning Balogun’s ban. ‘LOL,’ she wrote on X after Belgium’s 4-1 thrashing of the US.

The Czech-American legend’s latest outburst adds to her history of speaking out against Trump’s administration, reinforcing her stance as a public critic of his leadership.