Watching Gianni Infantino step up on stage at the Kennedy Center to present President Donald J. Trump with FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize was a reminder that truth and decency still get noticed, even when the mainstream media would rather smear it. The award, presented at the Final Draw for the 2026 World Cup, was billed by FIFA as the first of its kind and was accompanied by a commemorative medal and trophy.
Infantino’s warm remarks about Trump — calling him deserving of the first FIFA Peace Prize and pledging the football community’s support — were met with respectful applause as Mr. Trump accepted the medal and spoke briefly about unity and the world being safer. The image of a U.S. president being honored on an international stage for peace is exactly the kind of patriotism progressives claim to want, yet they react with reflexive derision.
Let’s be clear: conservatives don’t worship medals, but we do celebrate results. President Trump has emphasized his role in negotiating historic agreements and has pointed to a string of diplomatic successes as evidence that his approach yields real peace, even if the leftist press refuses to credit him. Dismissing those accomplishments out of spite smells like politics, not principle.
Unsurprisingly, the predictable wave of outrage came quickly — activist groups lodged complaints accusing Infantino of breaching FIFA’s political neutrality and questioning how the prize was created and awarded. That procedural hand-wringing is convenient cover for partisans who can’t stand the idea of an American leader being recognized for securing peace, and it reveals more about their priorities than about the trophy itself.
Late-night comedians and cable pundits piled on, mocking the trophy and lampooning the moment with the same sanctimony they use to police every patriotic symbol they don’t control. Their sneers are aimed at silencing the real story: an American president being credited on a global stage for bringing warring parties to the table, a fact the press glosses over while chasing soundbites.
Patriots should feel proud, not embarrassed, when our leader gets international recognition for peace. If critics want to contest FIFA’s procedures, let them file their papers and make their case — but don’t pretend this is about purity when it’s clearly about power. Hardworking Americans can see through the political theater: when your country advances peace, you cheer, and you defend the honor of the office that delivered it.
