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Former President Trump has once again announced he would urge FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup events from a venue based on that city's politics, with Massachusetts now being the most recent targeted location to receive such warnings from the White House. Moreover, Trump remarked he would evaluate parallel steps against Southern California for the 2028 Summer Games due to perceived public safety risks.

Official Power and Potential Influence

Even though Trump holds no direct legal authority to personally cancel either competition, he can exert influence the organizing committees overseeing each tournament to change venues.

Background of Comments

These remarks were made during a media briefing with Javier Milei, who was present in the White House following the disclosure of a multibillion-dollar financial assistance for the South American country. Near the close of the gathering, a media member questioned Trump about a latest “street takeover” in Boston where authorities were targeted and a patrol car was set on fire. The reporter also questioned if these incidents could result in the removal of tournament responsibilities for the larger soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president stated concerning the FIFA World Cup fixtures, scheduled to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “She is ineffective … they're extremist, and they are dominating sections of the city. That’s a significant statement, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Ideological Perceptions

Street takeovers, a digitally organized trend where large crowds congregate on public avenues during nighttime to engage in dangerous driving, have become a repeated problem in American cities since the coronavirus restrictions. Current such gatherings have become aggressive in Massachusetts, specifically in the city. However, these gatherings are generally not considered tied to any distinct partisan agenda.

“When a city is failing, and I feel exist dangerous circumstances, I would call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and tell him we should relocate it to another location,” he stated publicly. “And he would do that. He wouldn’t love the action, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

Gianni Infantino has been open his efforts to be visibly associated with Trump before the 2026 event, set to be hosted in multiple US locations across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and three in Mexico. The FIFA president has appeared at several Oval Office events, arranged for Trump deliver the Club World Cup trophy after the championship match, and has even delayed his own organization’s congress to accompany Trump on a journey to the Arab region previously.

Earlier Warnings

Nevertheless, Trump from suggesting the relocation of World Cup events from other US host cities. On September 25, the Washington city and San Francisco faced similar comments, with Trump claiming both locations were “run by far-left extremists who are clueless what they’re doing,” while challenging the public safety of both areas and suggesting that events could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani dismissed Trump’s assertions when he reacted subsequently at a event in London.

“This is the organization's event, under our authority, FIFA makes those decisions,” Montagliani said. “Politely to sitting presidents, soccer is transcends them and soccer will endure their regime and their government. It's the essence of this sport, that it is bigger than one leader and more important than a nation.”

LA Games Warning

Similarly, Trump’s answer to a question about Boston extended to a similar threat regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I believed Los Angeles was not adequately ready, I'd move it to another location as needed,” Trump stated. “On that one I might have to obtain a varying permission, but we would take that action.”

The permission Trump mentioned would must come via the Olympic governing body. The president, the newly elected president, was elected to her position in March and has yet to meet publicly with him, but she stated that she would like a sit-down with him at a future time.

Further Comments

Trump also criticized the state's leader Newsom’s handling of this year’s LA wildfires, remarking that a comparable scenario could lead to the removal of the Olympics.

“If Newsom refuses to cooperate, we will have to be firm,” the former president said.

The warning was similarly unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“The city better improve their situation,” Trump stated. “That is I will say.”