Commentary: The Trump 'curse' at the World Cup is his latest red card against Americans
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Set us as preferred For the past 11 years, I’ve waited for a scandal, a slip up, a moment of clarity that would finally make President Trump’s supporters realize that their man is charlatan.My fellow Americans, I think we finally found it.Earlier this week, Trump appears to have successfully lobbied FIFA to allow U.S.striker Folarin Balogun to play in this week’s round of 16 match against Belgium despite the player receiving a red card in the previous match, which in normal times would’ve made him ineligible to play.We, of course, do not live in normal times — and naturally, it took a pivotal World Cup game for our notoriously xenophobic president to suddenly strike a blow in favor of birthright citizenship.
The 25-year-old Balogun was born in this country to a Nigerian mother who came here while seven months pregnant and stayed because airlines wouldn’t allow her to board any flights home.He left the U.S.
at 2 months old and only returned as an adult three years ago to play for our national soccer team.The last thing the U.S.needed before its lackluster performance in a 4-1 loss to Belgium at the World Cup was President Trump getting involved.It’s the type of scenario Trump and his minions have railed about for years as to why birthright citizenship should be banned, an issue Trump vows to continue to pursue even though the Supreme Court last week ruled it constitutionally protected.In a lifetime spent as a case study showing how craven and selfish someone can be, Trump’s FIFA gambit was ne plus ultra Trump.Stand up for principles until they’re no longer convenient.
Demonize people until you can use them.Don’t let things like rules and decorum get in the way of what’s in it for him.
What Trump thinks is good PR for himself is what matters.Surely, seeing Trump abandon one of his most important crusades...