Americanswers! Was the 2026 World Cup a success for Donald Trump?
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 20 July 2026
⏱️ 26 minutes
🔗️ Recording | Apple Podcasts | RSS
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The FIFA 2026 World Cup was not without controversy, but with the event now concluded, was it a success for the US and Donald Trump? The president has faced scrutiny over perceived interference in the tournament, but what has the legacy of the World Cup been for the US? Meanwhile, the US and Iran have continued to exchange attacks over the weekend, with the Pentagon announcing on Sunday that a third member of the American military had died in attacks in Jordan and Iraq. Secretary of state Marco Rubio has said the US remains open to negotiations, but is America getting dragged into a so-called ‘forever war’? And, Justin, Sarah and Marianna answer your questions about plans to sell early access to the president‘s posts on Truth Social.
HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent
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This episode was made by George Dabby, Alix Pickles and Shiler Mahmoudi. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | I'm sure there used to be quiet news days. |
| 0:10.4 | Not anymore. |
| 0:11.5 | These days, the news never stops, and nor do we. |
| 0:14.4 | That's why there are new episodes of newscasts seven days a week. |
| 0:17.7 | And sometimes even that isn't enough. |
| 0:19.8 | Listen to newscast every day on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:22.9 | It's a big day in UK politics. |
| 0:24.7 | Today there is a new prime minister. |
| 0:26.8 | I know, I know we have had this in the past, in the recent past, |
| 0:30.7 | but Matt surely at least is excited, so is otherwise engaged. |
| 0:34.2 | But American answers continues at the worldwide headquarters, and we're answering your |
| 0:38.6 | questions as ever today. And there is a wide range of questions as ever as well. So, for instance, |
| 0:44.3 | is the situation in Iran starting to look like a forever war? You remember those are the wars |
| 0:50.3 | that Donald Trump promised not to have. And indeed, whether the US is running out of options to |
| 0:54.5 | end the war. Plus, of course, the World Cup finishing on Sunday in the buildup we asked if it was |
| 0:59.9 | the most controversial in history. What is the verdict now that it has all finished? We will be |
| 1:04.8 | talking through those and plenty of other questions as well. Welcome to America Answers. |
| 1:11.6 | AmeriCast. AmeriCast. |
| 1:12.4 | AmeriCast from BBC News. |
| 1:14.7 | You hear that sound? Oh, I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of money. |
| 1:19.6 | We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it. |
... |
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