WASHINGTON, D.C. – Lionel Messi and the Inter Miami F.C. MLS Cup championship team visited the White House on Thursday, where President Donald Trump used the occasion to discuss ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations in Iran and predict the fall of Cuba’s government.
First Iran, Football Second
Trump opened the East Room ceremony with remarks about Operation Epic Fury, describing U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran as proceeding ahead of schedule.
“The United States military, together with the wonderful Israeli partners, continues to totally demolish the enemy, far ahead of schedule and at levels that people have never seen before,” he said.
Trump told the room that his son Barron had informed him of Messi’s attendance, and raised the question of whether Messi was greater than Pelé, asking Inter Miami players to weigh in.
Managing owner Jorge Mas—whose family emigrated from Cuba—presented Trump with a pink Inter Miami jersey bearing the number 47 and a limited-edition team watch. Messi, standing to the president’s right, presented Trump with a signed team ball laden with glitzy embroidery.
“Cuba is Going to Fall”
Addressing Mas directly, Trump made remarks about Cuba’s future. “What’s happening with Cuba is amazing,” Trump said. “That will be just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba.”
The president also addressed former MLB player Alex Rodriguez, who is of Cuban descent, and in attendance, adding:
“Hopefully not to stay. We want you back, and we don’t want to lose you. We don’t want to make it so nice that they stay.”
Trump then referenced Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was present in the room, saying Cuba would be his next foreign policy focus. “Your next one’s going to be Cuba,” Trump said to Rubio. “He’s waiting. But he says, “Let’s get this one finished first,” a reference to the U.S. bombing campaign over Iran.
In a separate interview with POLITICO conducted earlier that day, Trump said he expected Cuba’s government to fall, stating that Washington had cut off the island’s oil and financial support through its Venezuela policy. “Cuba’s going to fall, too,” Trump said.
Messi did not make public remarks during the ceremony. No English translation was provided for the Argentine players during Trump’s address.
Reactions
The visit drew responses from journalists, football fans, and political figures across several continents.
Spain’s White House correspondent, David Alandete, described the scene on X as one of those surreal moments that only happen in Washington, noting that Trump had announced the Cuban government’s imminent fall in front of Messi, who listened attentively, even cracking an unintended grin during the remarks.
Argentine sportswriter Mariano Sinito wrote that the visit represented an enormous stain on Messi’s legacy, stating that the player had stood silent while Trump spoke about bombing countries and threatening opponents with consequences.
Spanish-Moroccan journalist Leyla Hamed described the players’ reaction to the Iran remarks as bizarre, writing that Trump had announced more military action in Iran in front of the entire Inter Miami F.C. squad.
In Argentina, supporters of imprisoned progressive former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner criticized the visit on social media, with some posting images comparing Messi’s presence at the ceremony to the military actions Trump described.
Supporters of President Javier Milei responded positively to the images of Messi, Argentina’s national hero, standing alongside President Trump, viewing the visit as a validation of the broader political alignment between Buenos Aires and Washington.
Milei has not been photographed with Messi despite sharing a venue with him at a Miami business forum last November. His government has had a contentious relationship with Argentine Football Association chief Claudio Tapia, who has maintained a close working relationship with the national team.
Social media users also noted the striking contrasts with Messi’s visit to the Trump White House and another Argentine legend’s political stances held by the late Diego Maradona.
Maradona, a self-declared communist, boasted a tattoo of Che Guevara on his shoulder, maintaining “father and son” relations with Cuba’s Fidel Castro in the late 1980s, for whom Maradona made several visits to Havana.
Maradona also attended a memorable political rally in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires in 2005, alongside Venezuela’s revolutionary leader, Hugo Chávez, which was held as a “massive rebuke” against U.S. President George W. Bush and “U.S. imperialism.”
World Cup Context
The White House visit took place with fewer than 100 days remaining before the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Lionel Messi is expected to represent Argentina in what will likely be his final World Cup appearance.
The tournament is co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with Miami serving as one of 11 U.S. host cities.
FIFA and the White House have both promoted the tournament as a symbol of international cooperation. Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup task force, also attended Thursday’s ceremony.
