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Fact Check: Spain Did Not Remove Trump from World Cup Photo

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Social media claims that Spain digitally removed US President Donald Trump from their 2026 World Cup victory photo are false.
  • Fact-checking revealed that the two photos circulating were taken at different times and angles during the celebration.
  • In one photo, Trump is visible presenting the trophy; in the second, taken moments later, he has moved away from the players.

Claims circulating on social media alleging that the Spanish National Team digitally edited US President Donald Trump out of their official 2026 World Cup victory photo have been debunked. Fact-checking investigations confirm that the photos shared online were captured at different moments during the trophy presentation ceremony.

Posts on platforms like Instagram and Facebook presented two images: one showing Trump standing near the Spanish players, and another where he is absent. Accompanying text asserted that Spain had removed Trump, who was allegedly present, from the official celebration picture. However, a Google reverse image search and verification with credible sources indicate no digital manipulation occurred.

The evidence shows that Donald Trump did indeed present the World Cup trophy alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino after Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina on July 19, 2026. Video footage from the ceremony clearly shows Trump on stage with the team. He lingered for some time before Infantino gestured for him to move aside. Footage from various angles confirms this sequence of events.

The Spanish National Team removed Donald Trump, who was actually present, in the official photo celebrating their 2026 World Cup victory.

— Instagram postA social media claim alleging photo manipulation.

Following the ceremony, FIFA and the Spanish national team's social media accounts posted photos that primarily featured the players. While FIFA's image showed a sliver of Trump's suit at the edge, neither FIFA nor the Spanish team digitally removed him. The difference in the photos is attributed to Trump moving to the side of the stage as the photographer's focus shifted to the Spanish players.

Tempo's Fact Check team concluded that the narrative of Spain removing Donald Trump from the World Cup celebration photo is misleading. The two photos were taken seconds apart, with Trump having moved further away in the second instance, leading to his absence in the frame focused solely on the Spanish national team.

The Spanish national team did not edit the photo by removing US President Donald Trump. The two photos shared were from two different angles. The second photo shows Trump's absence because he was further away and the photographer was focused solely on the Spanish national team.

— Tempo Fact CheckThe conclusion of the fact-checking investigation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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