Trump riffs on war, baseball and Barron as Messi visits the White House

It was the boastful American politician who loves to talk, and the diminutive Argentine player who hates to. It was a man who revels in the trappings of power and glamour and a man who prefers slides and quiet family trips to Publix.

On full display at the White House on Thursday afternoon was that contrast — and the familiar rhythm of a Donald Trump event — as the president welcomed Lionel Messi and his MLS Cup-winning Inter Miami team into the East Room of the White House for a celebration.

But first, the war.

With bombs falling in Iran for the sixth day, Trump at first left his celebrants waiting as he rolled through what was top of mind: destroying Iran’s military capabilities, stabilizing oil prices amid a sinking stock market and convincing Iranians to overthrow their government.

“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.

After several minutes he looked out and noted that Alex Rodriguez, the former New York Yankees third baseman, was in the audience, and said that he hoped that American influence would soon expand in Cuba.

The event — meant to celebrate Inter Miami’s championship and Messi’s arrival at the White House — instead became a slalom between major geopolitical events and Trump’s fandom, a long-running fascination with sports and celebrity. He digressed into his feelings about the state of baseball, about his own golf game and about the soccer world expanding in the United States ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

Throughout it all, Messi stood to the side, at times chuckling but at others glancing around the room or up to the ceiling and looking as if he would rather shed the suit and juggle the ball on the dais instead. He isn’t known to be a strong English speaker, and never spoke during the event. He isn’t known to get into politics, even in his native Argentina or his adopted Spain, and certainly wouldn’t on this day.

But while he and Trump have little in common, they do share a thirst for winning.

“We like champions,” Trump said. “We like winners.”

Trump seemed giddy at welcoming Messi, who is known for feints and misdirections that discombobulate defenders, a vision that spots a pass no one else could see, and the ability to nail free kicks that hit like daggers into the top corners of the goal. The president remarked with glee how it was the first time the soccer great had been to the White House (in the final weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency, he was awarded the Medal of Freedom but had a conflict and did not attend).

“It’s my privilege to say what no other president has ever said before,” Trump said. “Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi.”

Trump asked if they thought he could do a free kick that would arch around a wall of players (no). He remarked at how good-looking the players were, particularly when addressing Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul (who, while known as Messi’s bruising bodyguard, appeared to blush).

He talked about much his 19-year-old son, Barron, who grew up playing soccer in Arlington and at D.C. United’s academy, was looking forward to meeting Messi. But Trump, who rarely hesitates to weigh in on controversial topics, trod lightly on the debate over whether Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is better.

“He’s a tremendous fan of yours. And a gentleman named Ronaldo,” he said. “Cristiano is great. You’re great.”

Trump, more than many presidents, has embraced sports as a cultural touchstone. He has attended the Daytona 500 and plans to host a UFC match at the White House in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. He pushed Major League Baseball to reinstate Pete Rose, bashed NFL players for protesting racial inequality during his first term, and last year became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl.

He has been less connected with soccer — although golf caddies reportedly nicknamed him Peléafter seeing him frequently kick his ball onto the fairway — but has taken pride in hosting the World Cup this year.

Trump remarked about watching Pelé when the Brazilian great played for the New York Cosmos.

“I shouldn’t say this, because you say I’m old, but I watched Pelé play,” Trump said.

He remarked about being close friends with Steve Ross, who owned the New York Cosmos, before returning to Pelé.

“I don’t know you may be better than Pelé. Pelé was pretty good. Who’s better?”

Messi’s teammates were clear with their vote.

Trump next turned toward sports in general, and started talking about baseball (“it’s not as hot now, I’ll be honest with you”). He mentioned sitting with George Steinbrenner in his box at Yankee Stadium when tickets were valued and the sport was “hot as a pistol.”

“He would never have anybody but me,” he said. “He liked almost nobody.”

It was just the two of them, Trump recalled, and said sitting with Steinbrenner for three hours watching a baseball game was probably one of the most difficult things he’s done.

“He liked me, I liked him,” he declared. “And we both liked nobody else. That was a good combination.”

Eventually, he turned back to Messi.

“Leo, you came in and you won, and that’s something very hard to do, very, very unusual and frankly, there’s a lot more pressure put on you than anyone would know, because you sort of expected to win, but almost nobody wins,” Trump said.

The team behind him was an international mix, filled with Hondurans and Haitians, Venezuelans and Argentines.

When team owner Jorge Mas spoke — and presented Trump with a jersey, a watch and a soccer ball — he referenced his heritage as the son of Cuban refugees and the team motto printed on their jerseys, “Freedom to Dream.”

“I want to express what an extreme honor and privilege it is to be in the people’s house,” Mas said. “Led by you, celebrating in the presence of champions.”

Trump then invited the team to the Oval Office.

“It’s the center of the world,” he said. “Especially now.”

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