The “Trump curse” has emerged as a persistent narrative in sports media, linking the presence of Donald Trump at high-profile events to unfavorable outcomes for the teams or athletes he appears to support. While sports analysts often attribute such trends to coincidence, a series of documented losses—ranging from the USMNT to the New York Knicks—has fueled ongoing public debate regarding the statistical correlation between the president’s attendance and team performance.
USMNT Performance and FIFA Regulatory Intervention
The U.S. men’s national team experienced a notable exit from the World Cup following a 4-1 loss to Belgium, a match preceded by direct political involvement in tournament officiating. According to reporting by USA TODAY, Donald Trump contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of a red card issued to U.S. forward Folarin Balogun. FIFA subsequently suspended the one-game ban, allowing Balogun to participate in the match against Belgium. Following their victory, the Belgian Football Association utilized social media to highlight the lopsided result, posting an image of Romalu Lukaku’s celebration with the caption, “overturn this.”
The New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden
During the 2026 NBA Finals, the New York Knicks suffered their only loss of the series in Game 3, the sole contest attended by Donald Trump. The 111-115 defeat against the San Antonio Spurs ended a 13-game winning streak, prompting a superstitious reaction from some fans. Kazeem Famuyide, host of the podcast “Big Apple Buckets,” documented himself and others using sage to “cleanse” Madison Square Garden following the loss. Despite the optics of the defeat, the Knicks ultimately secured the series in five games.
Did you know?
The “Trump curse” narrative gained traction after the Washington Commanders lost 44-22 to the Detroit Lions in November 2025 during a game attended by Trump. The Lions, who later missed the playoffs after losing five of their final eight games, saw wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown perform a “Trump Dance” during the game, an action for which he later apologized.
Ryder Cup and International Competition
At the 2025 Ryder Cup held at Bethpage’s Black Course, Donald Trump’s appearance coincided with a shift in momentum for the U.S. team. After Trump told reporters on the first day that the U.S. would “get it done,” the team fell from a 3-1 deficit to a 5 1/2 to 2 1/2 disadvantage by the end of the day. Europe ultimately won the competition 15-13. The PGA of America president later issued an apology for chants directed at Team Europe during the event, characterizing them as “disrespectful.”
Lionel Messi and the World Cup Final
Before the World Cup Final, Donald Trump addressed his interest in the match during a pre-recorded interview with Fox’s Jenny Taft. While Trump declined to pick a winner, he offered praise for Lionel Messi, stating, “I would say that it’s hard to bet against Messi… He’s great.” When Trump appeared on the field to present the tournament trophies, he was met with boos from the crowd. His interaction with Messi during the medal ceremony was described as brief.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the “Trump curse” a recognized statistical phenomenon? No. Sports analysts generally view these occurrences as coincidental, noting that the high frequency of Trump’s attendance at major sporting events makes it statistically likely that he will be present for both losses and victories.
- Did Trump influence the FIFA ruling on Folarin Balogun? According to reports, Trump contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino regarding the red card, and FIFA subsequently suspended the one-game ban.
- How did the Knicks fans react to the loss in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals? Some fans engaged in a symbolic “cleansing” of Madison Square Garden using sage after the team’s only loss of the series during a game Trump attended.
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