MaddowBlog-FIFA rewards Trump with a new, hastily arranged, entirely unwarranted 'peace' prize

[LetMyPeopleVote]

FIFA rewards Trump with a new, hastily arranged, entirely unwarranted ‘peace’ prize

The fact that Trump put the ridiculous “FIFA Peace Prize” medal around his own neck added an unintentionally amusing — and oddly apt — twist on the award ceremony. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-05T18:01:52.369Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/fifa-rewards-trump-with-a-new-hastily-arranged-entirely-unwarranted-peace-prize

Donald Trump went to embarrassing lengths in his campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize — to no avail. Soon after, Gianni Infantino, who leads FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, got to work trying to make his friend in the White House feel better.

In fact, Infantino directed the international organization to create its own honor, called the “FIFA Peace Prize — Football Unites the World.” The New York Times reported that the effort “was so hastily arranged that it surprised several of the body’s most senior officials, including board members and vice presidents, according to four soccer executives briefed on the events.”

Take a wild guess who won the award.

Link to tweet

.......The obvious problem with these developments is that Trump doesn’t deserve a peace prize. The president is, after all, embroiled in an ongoing controversy surrounding his administration’s alleged war crimes, which dovetails with a series of related incidents that include Republicans’ threats targeting Latin American countries and Nigeria, preemptive military strikes on targets in Iran and a bombing campaign in Yemen.......

But there are other problems just below the surface of this new peace prize. What we have here is an example of a foreign businessman trying to curry favor with the White House, concocting a dubious prize that he knows Trump will appreciate.

Infantino isn’t alone. Axios recently reported that officials in Switzerland persuaded Trump to lower tariff rates by deploying a delegation of industry tycoons to the White House bearing gifts, including “a special Rolex desktop clock, a 1-kilogram personalized gold bar, and loads of flattery.”

The report added, “Trump loves such pampering, and the word’s out among nations and companies seeking his favor. Tributes fit for a king — especially gold — catch his eyes and his heart.” (The Swiss gold bar, which sounds a bit similar to the gift that helped land former Sen. Bob Menendez in prison, was stamped with “45” and “47” in homage to Trump’s presidential terms.)

And now FIFA has rewarded the American president with a gold honor of its own.

[Bluestocking]

1. I thought this was the onion when I saw it

Trump is a pathetic loser.

[Totally Tunsie]

2. How pathetically fitting that Dozing Donnie had to place the meal around his own neck.

The only way these "honors" come to him is through his own neediness and begging.

[jls4561]

3. And the inscription reads "We don't think you have a tiny penis. No, really."

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. MaddowBlog-Foreign governments have figured out how to receive favorable treatment from Trump

The White House’s recent interactions with Pakistan, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia offer a case study in how U.S. foreign policy is not supposed to work.

www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Rachel Maddow (@maddow.bsky.social) 2025-11-17T19:29:00.412Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/foreign-governments-figured-receive-favorable-treatment-trump-rcna244414

And one day after the Axios report ran, The New York Times published a related report about the American president’s relationship with yet another foreign country:

The Trump Organization is in talks that could bring a Trump-branded property to one of Saudi Arabia’s largest government-owned real estate developments, according to the chief executive of the Saudi company leading the development. The negotiations are the latest example of President Trump blending governance and family business, particularly in Persian Gulf countries. … Mr. Trump is set to host Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, in Washington next week.

A related Washington Post report noted that the Saudi crown prince is poised to be rewarded with a black-tie dinner in the White House’s East Room on Nov. 18. The gathering “will have all the trappings of a state visit and wrap a packed day of programming at the White House surrounding Mohammed’s trip, including a meeting with Trump. Members of Congress, administration officials and U.S. business leaders have been invited.”.....

The Times’ report concluded, “That sets up a scenario in which Mr. Trump discusses matters of national security with a foreign leader who is also a key figure in a potential business deal with the president’s family.”

The broader dynamic isn’t altogether new. Qatar, for example, rewarded Trump with a luxury jet and soon after reaped the rewards. Just last month, the American president was caught on a hot mic having an interesting chat with the president of Indonesia, where the Trump organization is building a golf resort.

The point, however, isn’t that the problem is new; the point is the problem seems to be getting worse. Foreign governments are learning how to receive favorable treatment from the Republican White House, through flattery, gifts, lobbying, private business deals or some combination thereof.

[MustLoveBeagles]

5. I thought Republicans were against participation trophies

[leftstreet]

6. Infantino played Trump, but he had no choice

He's not unaccustomed to kissing ass and manipulating leaders, but it's his job to pull off the World Cup without a hitch.

This was probably the only way to keep Trump from derailing the games and grabbing all the attention.

[tanyev]

7. The Golden Binky Peace Prize.

Last edited Fri Dec 5, 2025, 07:26 PM - Edit history (1)

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. trump is like a fat kid getting a participation trophy for most enthusiastic kickball player.

Link to tweet

[Crunchy Frog]

9. It isn't a real peace prize, it's a fake.

It's only purpose is mollify the tantrums of an overgrown toddler.

Any organization can create any kind of "prize" at all. That doesn't mean that anyone has to pretend that it means anything.