Messi was chastised for meeting and praising Trump while the US was attacking Iran.
Messi was chastised for meeting and praising Trump while the US was attacking Iran.
Trump spoke about the strength of the US military while Inter Miami and Messi were honored at the White House.
At a White House ceremony honoring the Argentine superstar and his Inter Miami club, Lionel Messi met with US President Donald Trump and praised his most recent statement on the Iran war. This move has drawn criticism.
Trump praised Messi on Thursday in Washington, DC, but the Miami captain faced criticism on social media for meeting and praising the US president.
Messi was voted the league's MVP for the second straight season after Miami defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps in December to win the Major League Soccer (MLS) championship.
As the 38-year-old stood next to him, Trump remarked, "It is my particular privilege to say what no American president has ever had the chance to say before: "Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi."
"Leo, you came in and won, which is extremely difficult, quite uncommon, and to be honest, you are under a lot more pressure than anyone would realize since you kind of anticipated to win, but very few people do."
Messi joined Inter Miami with much hoopla in the middle of 2023 and entered the ceremony with Trump. He remained silent during the event, which began with Trump discussing military action and the battle with Iran. He then continued the political speech to discuss the situation in Venezuela and a potential statement about tariffs and Cuba in the future.
Trump started out by boasting about the US and Israel's continuous attacks on Iran, which started on Saturday and have resulted in 1,230 fatalities.
In response, Tehran launched waves of missiles and drones against Israel as well as at a number of US military installations in the Middle East.
As Messi stood by him, Trump declared, "The United States military, working with the fantastic Israeli partners, continues to absolutely smash the enemy, well ahead of schedule and at levels that people have never seen before."
"Our people are doing a terrific job, again - the greatest military anyone has ever," the president said in closing.
Messi, the Miami team, and everyone else in the room applauded his remarks.
The former Barcelona attacker, however, quickly came under fire on social media for being sucked into politics and supporting Trump while he boasted about the US military's operation in Iran.
"Vacuous selfish people," commented Palestinian-American author Ali Abunimah, citing video footage of the incident.
When President Trump discusses his strategy to defeat Iran, Lionel Messi claps. Fans of Messi? On X, the account Halal Nation—the creator of the Halal Tribune with an alleged 500,000 subscribers—wrote.
In the midst of the continuous crisis throughout the Middle East, Spanish journalist Leyla Hamed called Messi and his team's conduct "bizarre."
She wrote, "Donald Trump nonchalantly announces additional unlawful bombing of Iran in front of the full Inter Miami squad."
Hamed noted that in recent days, hundreds of youngsters have been slaughtered in Iran.
On Saturday, 165 girls in an elementary school in the southeast Iranian city of Minab perished in the deadliest single occurrence.
"These athletes allowed themselves to be dragged into it, and Trump understands precisely what he is doing by utilizing them," she continued.
"If you can not use your influence and authority in situations like this, what good are they?
"To think that the majority of these athletes are parents."
Tactical Manager, a YouTube account dedicated to American football fans, also responded to Messi and Miami's visit to the White House. Luis Suarez, Messi's old striking partner at Barcelona, was also there.
The source stated, "I never believed I would live to watch Donald Trump talking about destroying another country with Messi and Suarez in the background."
Numerous other fans and fan organizations voiced their disapproval.
Trump receives a signed Inter Miami ball from Messi.
It appears that Trump utilized the event to unite military strength and sports prowess.
"Do you have any bad-looking players?" the president inquired, surveying the team before stopping to single out Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.
Trump said, "You do not feel so good about yourself. I do not like good-looking men."
Speaking to Messi, who is renowned for refraining from discussing politics, the president returned the discussion to athletics.
"You might have traveled anyplace in the world. You had the option to pick any team in the globe, but you decided to visit Miami. You are not at fault. The weather is fantastic. Do you visit Doral? Trump mentioned a golf facility he owns and asked, "You go to Doral and play golf?"
"You are attractive, gifted, and a wonderful person, so I just wanted to thank you for taking us all along on this journey."
Lionel Messi, the captain of Inter Miami CF, and his team cheer as US President Donald Trump addresses the crowd.
