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Donald Trump has repeatedly announced he would urge FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup games from a host city based on municipal politics, with the Boston region becoming the third targeted location to receive such statements from the US president. Additionally, Trump indicated he would contemplate comparable measures against LA for the 2028 Summer Games due to possible public safety risks.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

Although Trump does not have official jurisdiction to directly relocate either tournament, he can apply pressure the organizing committees managing each competition to change venues.

Background of Comments

His comments were made during a media briefing with Argentina's leader Milei, who was present in the executive mansion following the disclosure of a multibillion-dollar rescue package for the Argentine nation. Toward the end of the gathering, a journalist asked Trump about a current public disturbance in downtown Boston where law enforcement were targeted and a patrol car was ignited. The reporter also questioned if these incidents could cause the revocation of organizing rights for the larger soccer tournament.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president remarked regarding the World Cup games, planned to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “The city's leader is not good … she is far-left, and they are dominating sections of downtown. It's a major claim, right?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Public disruptions, a social media-driven phenomenon where groups of people gather on city streets after dark to conduct vehicular acrobatics, have been a ongoing issue in metropolitan centers since the lockdown restrictions. Recent such gatherings have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, specifically in the city. However, these gatherings are typically not considered linked to any particular partisan agenda.

“When someone is doing a bad job, and I perceive there are unsafe conditions, I'd call the organization's president, who is outstanding, and tell him it should be shifted to an alternate venue,” Trump said publicly. “He will do that. He may not enjoy doing it, but he’d do it. Very easily, he'd comply.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has been open his efforts to be closely connected with Trump ahead of the 2026 event, set to be hosted in multiple US locations across the United States along with a couple in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has appeared at multiple White House functions, had Trump deliver the FIFA club cup after the concluding game, and has even postponed his the group's assembly to join Trump on a trip to the Arab region this year.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from warning about the relocation of World Cup events from additional American venues. In late September, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis came under parallel comments, with Trump stating both urban centers were “run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they are doing,” while questioning the safety level of both areas and suggesting that games could be relocated.

Organizational Statement

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s assertions when he commented days later at a conference in London.

“It is the organization's event, under our authority, FIFA makes those decisions,” Montagliani said. “Politely to sitting presidents, soccer is more important than them and football will outlast their tenure and their policies. It's the strength of football, that it is more significant than any individual and beyond individual states.”

LA Games Warning

On Tuesday, Trump’s answer to a question about Boston veered into a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“When I believed Los Angeles was not going to be adequately ready, I will move it to a different city if necessary,” Trump stated. “On that one I might have to secure a different kind of approval, but we will do that.”

The permission Trump refers to would must come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The leader, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her role in spring and has not yet meet publicly with the former president, but she indicated that she would like a discussion with the US figure at eventually.

Additional Criticism

He also criticized the state's leader Newsom’s response of the LA wildfires, stating that a comparable scenario could lead to the relocation of the Games.

“In case Newsom refuses to cooperate, we’re gonna have to be very tough,” Trump commented.

His message was just as clear for the Massachusetts city.

“Boston must clean up their act,” he said. “That’s all I will say.”