President Donald Trump said Monday that his notably raspy voice was the result of losing his cool over trade negotiations earlier in the day.
“I feel great. I was shouting at people because they were stupid about something having to do with trade, and a country, and I straightened it out, but I blew my stack at these people,” Trump explained when questioned by reporters gathered in the Oval Office for an announcement regarding visas for next year’s FIFA World Cup.
“A country wanted to try and renegotiate the terms of their trade deal,” Trump continued. “And I wasn’t happy about it.”
The president declined to say which country was attempting to negotiate with him. When pressed, he asked, “Why would I say that to you?”
The administration has spent much of this year renegotiating more favorable trade deals with U.S. partners after the announcement of Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs earlier this year. Last week, the administration revealed four new “framework” trade agreements with Argentina, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Guatemala. However, the administration has struggled to respond to concerns regarding the increase in food prices due to the tariffs.
The Oval Office gathering was to announce the launch of FIFA Pass, which will expedite the visa process for ticket holders.
Trump, joined by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, touted the economic benefits the World Cup will bring to the United States next year.
“The World Cup will also be an incredibly significant economic opportunity for countless American workers and businesses,” Trump bragged. “It’s expected to drive more than $30 billion.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also attended the Oval Office announcement, said the U.S. will deploy more than 400 additional consular officers worldwide to assist U.S. embassies in expediting the visa process.
“The good news now is that in about 80% of the world, you can get an appointment within 60 days,” Rubio said. “It used to take, you know, half a year or longer, and now sometimes it takes, you know, now you can get in less than two months, where, in places, it took over a year.”
WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES TRADE ‘FRAMEWORKS’ WITH ARGENTINA, EL SALVADOR, ECUADOR, AND GUATEMALA
“For example, like Brazil and Argentina, it took over a year to get an appointment. Now you can get in less than two months,” he continued. “So our advice to everybody is, if you have a ticket for any of the games, you need to apply. If you haven’t done so as soon as possible, don’t wait till the last minute. Your ticket is not a visa.”
The 2026 World Cup draw will be held on Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
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