President Trump Signs Executive Order Establishing Olympic Task Force
With the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles three years away, United States President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on Tuesday that establishes a White House task force for LA28, with Trump serving as chairman. A White House statement said the task force will be focused on security and transportation and that the Trump administration will work with federal, state and local officials in delivering a safe Olympics.
Vice President J.D. Vance and other Trump administrators, will be members of the task force, suggesting that this White House plans to be more involved in the Olympic Games than in the past. Generally, U.S. presidents have played ceremonial roles when American has served as an Olympic host.
“We’ll do anything necessary to keep the Olympics safe, including using our National Guard or military, OK?” Trump said. “I will use the National Guard or the military. This is going to be so safe. If we have to.”
According to the Executive Order, the task force will “assist in the planning and implementation of visa processing and credentialing programs for foreign athletes, coaches, officials, and media personnel.”
How Trump gets along with the city of Los Angeles, including mayor Karen Bass, remains to be seen. The relationship is contentious, due to ICE raids in Southern California. Additionally, the LA28 organizing committee and city of Los Angeles still must come to an agreement on the use of police officers, security personnel, traffic officers and other city workers during the Games.
The Chairman of LA28, Casey Wasserman, thanked Trump for his role in bringing the Olympic Games back to the United States.
“You’ve been supportive and helpful every step of the way,” Wasserman said. “With the creation of this task force, we’ve unlocked the opportunity to level up our planning and deliver the largest, and yes, greatest Games for our nation, ever.”
The 2028 Games will mark Los Angeles’ third time serving as Olympic host, joining 1932 and 1984.
