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Members of Juventus FC, an Italian professional soccer team, listen as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks as he hosts the team in the Oval Office at the White House on June 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. is hosting the FIFA Club World Cup, an international soccer tournament organized by FIFA featuring club teams from around the world. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The FIFA Club World Cup has led to no shortage of headlines in the United States and now President Donald Trump’s meeting with Juventus is turning heads. United States forward Tim Weah did not hold back regarding Juventus’ encounter with Trump and was taken aback by the president’s willingness to discuss the ongoing situation in Iran with the team standing behind him.
Weah did not appear thrilled about the impromptu White House visit and admitted to having “no choice” about the meeting. The Juventus player labeled the meeting with Trump as “weird” preferring to focus on the club’s effort to advance in the Club World Cup.
“It was all a surprise to me, honestly — they told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go,” Weah said of the visit on June 18, 2025, per The Athletic’s Adam Crafton. “I was caught by surprise, honestly.
“It was a bit weird. When he started talking about the politics with Iran and everything, it’s kind of like, I just want to play football man.”
Juventus Midfielder Weston McKennie Previously Called Out Donald Trump in 2020
Weah was also joined by fellow USMNT teammate Weston McKennie who also plays for Juventus. Both players are not on the United States roster for the Gold Cup given Juventus is playing in the Club World Cup during the same timespan.
The USMNT square off with Saudi Arabia on June 19 in the Gold Cup. McKennie was critical of Trump during a 2020 interview with the German media outlet Sport Bild.
“I don’t think that Trump is right for the job of President,” McKennie said at the time. “I don’t think he understands the responsibility he has for the entire country.
“I think he’s an ignorant. I don’t support him one bit. In my eyes, you can call him a racist.”
Tim Weah & Weston McKennie Are Playing in the Club World Cup as the USMNT Compete in the Gold Cup
Despite Weah’s indifference, it does not appear the team’s visit with Trump impacted their play on the pitch. Juventus made short work of Al Ain with a convincing 5-0 victory just hours after the White House meeting.
The news comes as Weah and McKennie are expected to be key members on the USMNT’s team as the United States hosts the 2026 World Cup in less than one year. Both athletes are part of a growing group of American players shining as part of European clubs.
The majority of these players are absent from the Gold Cup roster, a topic that has been a controversial discussion among media members and fans alike. United States manager Mauricio Pochettino is aiming to up the intensity during the Gold Cup by changing players’ mindset.
“What we want to create in our national team is people desperate to come, desperate to perform,” Pochettino noted, per Yahoo Sports. “To perform means follow the rules, create [a] good atmosphere, be part of the team, be able, in every single aspect, [to meet] our [federation’s] demand and understand that it’s possible (for it to) be the last [opportunity] to be with us.”
“If you arrive to the camp and you want to spend a nice time, play golf, go for a dinner, visit my family, visit my friend — is that the culture that we want to create? No, no, no, no, no. What we want to do is to go to the national team, arrive and be focused. And spend all my focus and energy on the national team. Because we need to create this culture about winning.”
Jonathan Adams is a veteran sports contributor covering the NFL, NBA and golf for Heavy.com. His work has been prominently featured on NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated. More about Jonathan Adams
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