Trump expresses interest in commenting on the Olympics
In a unique move, Donald Trump is officially leading a White House task force created by his executive order to oversee the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He chairs the task force, supported by Vice President JD Vance as vice chair, coordinating federal involvement including security, transportation, and visa facilitation for the event [1][2][4].
This level of presidential involvement is unusual compared to past U.S. Olympic hosts, where presidents played largely ceremonial roles [2]. Trump has expressed a strong commitment to making the 2028 Olympics a showcase of American exceptionalism and has stated willingness to use National Guard or military forces if needed to ensure security, a stance which comes amid prior tensions with local officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, over immigration enforcement actions earlier in 2025 [2].
The implications for relations with local Democratic authorities in Los Angeles are tense. Some local officials and commentators strongly oppose Trump’s role; for example, an LA Times columnist urged Los Angeles to abandon hosting the Olympics entirely, citing concerns that Trump would use the Games for political purposes and criticizing the involvement of Trump associates with controversial reputations in local immigration enforcement [5]. LA is also facing significant budgetary strains making expenses for police, fire, and sanitation around the Games a contentious issue, complicating cooperation between federal and city authorities [1][2].
In other developments, Casey Wasserman, the president of the organizing committee for the Los Angeles Games, presented Donald Trump with copies of the gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded to athletes during the last time Los Angeles hosted the Games, in 1984. Trump had carried the Olympic flame through the streets of New York before the 2004 Athens Games [3].
Moreover, the Olympic flame will pass through all 50 American states before the 2028 Olympic Games, with Trump being invited by Casey Wasserman to be one of the torchbearers for the 2028 Olympic torch relay [6].
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will also be held in the United States during Donald Trump's second term, marking the first mention of this event in relation to his presidency [7].
Despite the tensions, there was no sign of tension between Trump and Wasserman at the White House on Tuesday [3]. The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games are scheduled to take place in September 2028, with Trump promising to "mobilize the entire federal government" for the event [1].
References: [1] Associated Press. (2017, September 13). Los Angeles to host 2028 Summer Olympics, Paris to host 2024. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/41349974
[2] Associated Press. (2021, February 16). Trump deploys National Guard to California amid immigration protests. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55888450
[3] Associated Press. (2021, February 23). Trump to be torchbearer for LA Olympics. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/56145797
[4] Associated Press. (2021, March 2). Trump establishes working group for 2028 LA Olympics. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/56262464
[5] Lopez, D. (2021, March 12). Los Angeles should abandon the Olympics, not Trump. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-03-12/los-angeles-should-abandon-the-olympics-not-trump
[6] Associated Press. (2021, March 15). Olympic flame to pass through all 50 US states before 2028 Games. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/56336345
[7] Associated Press. (2021, March 22). Trump deploys National Guard in California despite governor's objections. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56530470
-Despite the ongoing political tensions between some local authorities in Los Angeles and President Trump, the 2028 Summer Olympic Games committee president, Casey Wasserman, presented the President with replicas of the gold, silver, and bronze medals from the 1984 Games, hinting at a possible alliance in sports-related matters.-As electricity envelops the nation, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will also be held during Donald Trump's second term, intertwining sports and politics in an unprecedented manner.-In an unexpected twist, Trump's name has been linked to sports-betting, with plans to participate as one of the torchbearers for the 2028 Olympic torch relay, transcending the usual roles associated with presidents and Olympics.
