Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St Clair says Donald Trump’s remarks about the US and Israeli strikes on Iran “threw a lot of guys off” as the squad stood behind the president while he spoke during their visit to the White House this week.
Herons captain Lionel Messi and his teammates were invited to meet Trump in Washington DC to commemorate the club’s MLS Cup triumph last season.
“It was definitely a little bit awkward,” St Clair told a reporter when he was asked about Trump’s decision to talk about war at the start of the ceremony.
“We know we were there to be congratulated for what the team did last year, so the opening remarks of that kind of threw a lot of guys off, because it was supposed to be about the team and and winning last year.
“It was definitely a little awkward to be in the background for that. But at the same time, it’s something that’s out of our control and we didn’t know that was going to be a part of it as well.”
How did Donald Trump start Inter Miami’s White House Ceremony?
Associated Press footage shows Trump starting the ceremony by spending more than seven minutes speaking about the strikes and other US interventions including their operation in Venezuela in January.
After turning the topic to football, Trump told Messi that the president’s son, Barron, had told him the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner would be there.
“Leo claimed the 47th trophy of his incredible career – the most of all time,” Trump said of the two-time MLS Most Valuable Player, who joined Miami in 2023 and led them to their first-ever MLS Cup triumph.
“You could have gone anywhere in the world – any team in the world – and you chose Miami. I just want to thank you for bringing us all on this ride.”
Trump also said he had watched late football icon Pele play. “I don’t know, you may be better than Pele,” he added to Messi. “Pele was pretty good.”
Canada international St Clair, who joined Miami in January after six years with Minnesota United, said he had grown up in the Washington metropolitan region.
“To be inside was a definitely an experience, for sure,” the 28-year-old reflected of the White House.
“It was a little bit different for me because I wasn’t on the team last year. At the same time, not that many people get to be able to go and experience that.”
Messi in Washington: Inter Miami help break record
Messi scored his 899th career goal to help Inter Miami beat DC United 2-1 on Saturday, drawing a crowd of 72,026 to the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
DC moved the game to the NFL stadium because of high interest, breaking their home crowd record by almost 15,000 with an attendance that entered the top 10 of all time for a standalone MLS match.
Messi is set to skipper Argentina in their World Cup title defence when the tournament takes place in the US, Mexico and Canada in June and July.
What’s next for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami? Fixtures, schedule
Inter Miami are fourth in the MLS on six points, with only New York City and Nashville – both on seven points – taking more from the first three matches.
Here are their next matches, featuring games in the Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS.
| Date | Match | Competition | ET | PT | GMT |
| Mar 11 | Nashville vs Inter Miami | CCC | 16:30 | 13:30 | 20:30 |
| Mar 14 | Charlotte vs Inter Miami | MLS | 19:30 | 17:00 | 11:30 |
| Mar 18 | Inter Miami vs Nashville SC | CCC | 16:00 | 13:00 | 20:00 |
| Mar 22 | New York City vs Inter Miami | MLS | 13:00 | 10:00 | 17:00 |
