President Donald Trump is being taunted all over the world for intervening in the Fifa World Cup — and to add insult to injury, he was mocked for the meddling on his enemy Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show while Kimmel was not even there.
Trump caused damage to Fifa’s integrity after making a personal call to the organization’s president, Gianni Infantino, to protest U.S. Men’s Soccer team star Folarin Balogun’s red card during the Bosnia-Herzegovina match. After Trump’s call, Fifa announced Sunday that Balogun’s red card was suspended, meaning he would be able to play in the knockout game against Belgium.
Tiffany Haddish — who is filling in for Kimmel for a week of his annual two-month summer break — kicked off her guest-hosting gig on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday and wasted no time in delivering a zinger about the controversy during the show.
“One of our star players was supposed to be suspended from tonight’s game, but Donald Trump personally called the head of Fifa to get the player reinstated,” she said.
“Which is surprising, because Trump doesn’t know anything about soccer, and it’s the first time he’s ever defended a Black person!” she joked.
“He’s growing, y’all,” she teased. “He’s growing! He’s growing! I’m so proud of him.”
For his part, Trump told reporters Monday in the Oval Office that he “asked for a review by Fifa” but that he had “nothing to do with the decision.” He wrote on Truth Social, “Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice.”
Trump’s alleged interference did not account for much, as the U.S. Men’s Soccer team lost to Belgium 4-1 in Monday’s match.
Haddish teased Trump for more than the World Cup controversy during Monday’s show. She called out the president’s recent Great American State Fair, which saw low attendance amid blistering temperatures and canceled performances.
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“Trump said the event was going to be, and I quote, ‘packed to the brim.’ Well, let’s see how that worked out for him,” the comedian said before showing a montage of the nearly-empty National Mall, where the event was held over July 4 weekend.
“Imma be honest with y’all, there was more people at my bat mitzvah,” the Girls Trip star joked before adding, “Imma be real honest with you, there was more people at my DUI trial.”
Haddish, 46, will fill in for Kimmel all week before actor Anthony Anderson takes the guest host spot starting July 13.
Last month, Kimmel announced the lineup of guest hosts and teased that one of the comedians who would be filling in for him is Rosie O’Donnell, who has had a longstanding feud with the president.
“And as a special treat for our commander in chief, I asked one of his all-time favorites, Rosie O’Donnell, to be here to keep the hits coming,” he joked. “You’re welcome, and all I ask in return, Mr. President, is that you don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.”