Gavin Newsom trolls Trump over FIFA Peace Prize with ‘participation’ medal jab

WASHINGTON, DC: California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked President Donald Trump after he received the FIFA “peace prize” on Friday, December 5, calling it more of a participation trophy than an honor with real weight.

Trump attended the group draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded him a golden medal along with a trophy and certificate.

Newsom’s press office quickly took aim.

The Governor’s team posted an image of a novelty medal inscribed with “If You Had Fun, You Won!” and the word “Participation,” featuring a smiling gold star.

The caption read, “Got a close up look at Trump’s medal.”

Gavin Newsom team trolls Donald Trump with parody medal

Infantino had praised Donald Trump while presenting the honor, claiming the President deserved the inaugural prize for “exceptional and extraordinary actions to promote peace and unity around the world.” He encouraged Trump to wear the medal “everywhere you want to go.” 

According to a New York Times report, Infantino created the prize after Trump pushed for a Nobel Peace Prize earlier this year but failed to secure it. The move reportedly surprised senior leaders within FIFA’s global structure.

On stage, Infantino described the prize as an annual recognition granted “on behalf of the billions of football-loving people around the world” to someone who shows “unwavering commitment to balancing peace and unity” through leadership and action.

Later in the event, Trump pivoted to American football, suggesting the sport should consider a name change.

“When you look at what has happened to football in the United States, it’s again soccer in the United States. We seem to never call it that because we have a little bit of conflict with another thing called football,” he said.

Donald Trump calls FIFA peace prize a major honor

In his acceptance remarks, Trump described the prize as “one of the great honors of my life” and used the moment to defend his foreign policy record.

He claimed responsibility for preventing large-scale loss of life in multiple conflict regions.

“Saved millions and millions of lives — the Congo is an example, over 10 million people killed, and it was heading for another 10 million very quickly,” Trump said. He also cited South Asia tensions, adding, “India and Pakistan, so many different wars we were able to end, in some cases just before they started.”

Trump praised Infantino as well, crediting the FIFA chief for “setting new records on ticket sales” for the upcoming tournament. He predicted that next year’s World Cup would be an event “the likes of which maybe the world has never seen.”

He closed with, “The world is a safer place now… we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world."