The official White House account on X reacted on Tuesday to the viral gesture by Spanish forward Ferrán Torres, who donned a red cap with the slogan "Make Spain Great Again" during the massive World Cup celebration parade in Madrid.
The White House's response came via a retweet of Fox News' coverage of Torres' hat, accompanied by a brief yet direct message: "Everyone wants to join the movement."
In just a few hours, the post garnered over 2.6 million views, more than 32,000 likes, and over 1,300 comments.
The Winning Goal and a Viral Moment
Torres emerged as the undeniable hero of the 2026 World Cup final on July 19, held at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, by scoring the decisive goal in overtime against Argentina. This victory secured Spain's second World Cup, 16 years after their triumph in South Africa in 2010.
Two days following the victory, during the celebratory parade through Madrid's streets—attended by an estimated two million people according to the Government Delegation—the FC Barcelona forward appeared shirtless, sporting the red cap emblazoned with "Make Spain Great Again," a direct nod to Donald Trump's famous 2016 presidential campaign slogan.
Torres shared a firsthand video from his Instagram account during the parade, prominently displaying the hat, which fueled its viral spread across social media. Fox News reported on the incident with the headline: "Ferrán Torres Wears 'Make Spain Great Again' Hat at World Cup Parade."
No Clarifications or Apologies
The Valencia-born footballer offered no public explanation regarding the intent behind his gesture, nor did he apologize to those who perceived it as a political nod to Trumpism. Instead, he posted more photos from the parade, still wearing the hat, which several English-speaking media outlets interpreted as a defiant response to the criticism.
The gesture sparked a debate: some media outlets saw it as a joke or an ironic nod to the tournament's context, while others interpreted it as genuine support for the movement. Torres did not clarify his stance.
On his performance in the final, the forward commented, "I believe you always have to keep believing, and in the end, everything falls into place," as reported by the newspaper Sport.
Trump's Ubiquity at the World Cup
The episode took place amid Trump's strong presence throughout the tournament. The U.S. president attended the final in person, arriving via the presidential helicopter Marine One, and participated in presenting the World Cup to the Spanish team alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino. In the VIP box, he greeted King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez.
After the tournament, Trump declared it "the safest and most spectacular World Cup in history, by a wide margin" and estimated its economic impact at about $20 billion for the United States.
The Spanish celebration in Madrid also included another Trump-related viral moment: midfielder Mikel Merino mimicked the U.S. president’s signature dance during the trophy presentation ceremony, with Trump just a few meters away, in a video that quickly spread worldwide.
A Slogan with History in Spain
The slogan "Make Spain Great Again" isn't new in the country. The far-right party Vox adopted the phrase "Hacer España grande otra vez" in 2018, mirroring Trump's slogan, sparking political debate about Trumpism's influence on the Spanish right. The fact that the national team's top scorer wore it on his cap during the largest celebration in recent years adds a layer of ambiguity that the White House was quick to capitalize on.
Exploring the Impact of Ferrán Torres' Viral Hat
What was the White House's reaction to Ferrán Torres' "Make Spain Great Again" hat?
The White House responded by retweeting Fox News' coverage of Torres' hat and added the comment, "Everyone wants to join the movement."
Why did Ferrán Torres' hat become controversial?
The hat's slogan, "Make Spain Great Again," is a direct reference to Donald Trump's 2016 campaign slogan, which led to debates about its political implications and whether it was meant as a serious endorsement or a joke.
Did Ferrán Torres clarify his stance on the hat controversy?
No, Ferrán Torres did not provide any public explanation or apology regarding the hat, leaving his intentions open to interpretation.