Khaberni - The White House responded to critics of Donald Trump receiving the peace award from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), asserting that there is no one more deserving of it than the American president.
FIFA had awarded Trump the first edition of this award during the World Cup draw ceremony last December, recognizing what it described as the American president's efforts in "promoting peace and unity across the world".
However, the decision sparked widespread criticism from human rights groups, especially in the period leading up to the World Cup.
This week, Australian soccer player Jackson Irvine said that awarding the prize to Trump "mocks" FIFA's human rights policy, while the Norwegian Football Federation called for the award to be withdrawn and cancelled.
Human rights organizations also considered that FIFA is required to exert greater efforts to press the United States to address risks of human rights violations affecting athletes, fans, and workers, pointing to policies of mass deportation and strict immigration restrictions pursued by the Trump administration.
In response to these criticisms, the White House confirmed that "Trump’s foreign policy, based on the principle of peace through strength," contributed to ending eight wars in less than a year.
White House spokesperson Davis Engel stated in an announcement, "No one in the world deserves the first-of-its-kind peace award granted by FIFA more than President Trump. Anyone who thinks otherwise clearly suffers from what is known as Trump Derangement Syndrome."
The United States, in joint partnership with Canada and Mexico, will host the 2026 World Cup from June 11 to July 19.
