USA Thrashed 4–1 by Belgium at World Cup After Trump's Balogun Intervention Backfires

The United States were thrashed 4–1 by Belgium at the World Cup, triggering widespread mockery of Donald Trump, who had personally intervened to overturn Folarin Balogun's suspension ahead of the match. Jokes circulated online suggesting Trump might impose 12,000 per cent tariffs on Belgian goods in retaliation. The result was immediately dubbed "the Trump effect" by US commentators.