A columnist for the Los Angeles Times has called for the city to reconsider hosting the 2028 Olympics due to concerns about President Donald Trump’s involvement.
In a recent piece, Gustavo Arellano expressed his worries about Trump leading the task force for the upcoming Summer Olympics, suggesting that the president will utilize the event to promote his own agenda.
“That’s why LA needs to pull out of hosting the Olympics,” Arellano stated.
Arellano highlighted that during the announcement of the Olympic task force, Chair Casey Wasserman introduced Trump as its head. He also criticized other officials from the Trump administration who were present at the event.
“To Trump’s right was the La Harter rash, some of whom played significant roles in Southern California’s summer deportation efforts,” he noted.
He pointed out that at the press conference, Trump greeting Deputy Director Stephen Miller as an “MVP candidate,” who had long sought to undermine the multicultural fabric of the city where he grew up.
Arellano suggested that Wasserman’s flattering remarks about Trump were excessive, commenting, “I’ve never seen such sycophancy since I last vacuumed my dad’s pool.”
He questioned Wasserman’s qualifications for his position with LA28, stating it’s unclear what he did to earn such a prominent role.
Arellano mentioned that while the federal government typically plays a role in hosting the Olympics—especially regarding security—Trump’s specific involvement is particularly troubling.
“The federal government is supposed to ensure safety for the 2028 Olympics; however, having Trump in charge only complicates things further,” he wrote.
He also cautioned that with the games coinciding with the presidential election year, Trump would likely exploit the situation to demean the more liberal climate of Los Angeles.
Arellano warned against providing Trump and his administration any chance to “humiliate blue LA” during the years leading up to the games.
He posed a question to readers, asking if they were willing to give Trump’s “goon squad” more opportunities to make life “miserable” in the city.
Arellano expressed a preference for a more community-focused approach rather than bolstering Trump’s reputation at the city’s expense. He hinted that if Trump’s policies continue to negatively affect LA, he wouldn’t support Wasserman either.
He concluded with reservations about the potential portrayal of Los Angeles as a city under siege during the games, questioning the impact on the true essence of the city’s residents.
The 2028 Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 14th to 30th, with LA being designated as the host city in 2017.
The White House has not yet responded to inquiries regarding these concerns.
