Losing control of the World Cup...
Donald Trump may not attend a World Cup match involving an English-speaking team, after brutal fan chants linking the president to his old pal Jeffrey Epstein went viral.
Concern is understood to be so high that questions are being asked about whether the US leader will present the trophy at the July 19 final, amid fears over what supporters could sing should he appear. White House officials are claimed to be attempting to shield Trump from the hostility on the terraces, particularly from fans of English-speaking nations.
Supporters from England, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand have all created songs that now echo through bars before matches and inside stadiums during games. A source said: "There isn't a fan alive who doesn't know how fragile Trump's ego is. In recent months, he has had to contend with widespread booing whenever he attends major sporting events in America, but this is another level entirely.
“New Yorkers were furious when he turned up at the recent Knicks basketball game. But World Cup supporters are taking it to a whole new level, linking Trump to his friendship with Epstein and to his appearance in Epstein-related files.
"His staff are in crisis mode trying to prevent the President from being exposed to the chants in person, and that includes avoiding matches involving English-speaking teams."
The Mirror understands lead broadcasters have already been made aware of the chants being heard at matches. Fans are drawing attention to Trump's long-documented friendship with Epstein, the *****phile who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
The pair moved in the same social circles throughout the 1980s and 1990s and were photographed together on numerous occasions. In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, Trump described Epstein as a "terrific guy" and said he was "a lot of fun to be with".