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Ex-president Trump has yet again announced he would pressure FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup matches from a host city based on the local political climate, with Massachusetts now being the third such city to encounter such threats from the White House. Moreover, Trump suggested he would evaluate similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential public safety risks.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Although Trump holds no direct legal authority to personally cancel either tournament, he is able to lobby the organizing committees overseeing each tournament to change locations.

Context of Remarks

The remarks were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the presidential residence following the disclosure of a massive rescue package for the South American economy. At the conclusion of the event, a journalist questioned Trump about a latest unauthorized gathering in the city where authorities were assaulted and a cruiser was set on fire. The correspondent also wondered if such events could cause the revocation of organizing rights for the 48-team football competition.

“We could take them away,” he remarked about the World Cup fixtures, scheduled to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “The city's leader is not good … she’s far-left, and they’re occupying parts of downtown. It's a significant assertion, right?”

Street Takeovers and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a online-fueled trend where groups of people congregate on urban roads after dark to perform stunts, have become a repeated issue in American cities since the coronavirus restrictions. Current such gatherings have escalated into violence in Massachusetts, notably in the city. Nevertheless, these gatherings are generally not considered tied to any distinct partisan agenda.

“In cases where a city is performing poorly, and I perceive there’s unsafe conditions, I would call the organization's president, who is phenomenal, and tell him it should be shifted to an alternate venue,” he commented on Tuesday. “And he would do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he’d do it. Very easily, he’d do it.”

FIFA Relationship

FIFA President has been open his strategies to be publicly aligned with the former president prior to next year’s tournament, planned to be organized in multiple US locations across the United States along with two in Canada and multiple in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has appeared at several Oval Office events, arranged for Trump deliver the FIFA club trophy after the concluding game, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a journey to the Gulf states previously.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from suggesting the removal of World Cup games from different locations. On September 25, Seattle and San Francisco were similar comments, with Trump claiming both cities were “led by far-left extremists who don’t know what they’re doing,” while challenging the public safety of both areas and suggesting that matches could be relocated.

FIFA Response

Victor Montagliani dismissed Trump’s claims when he responded days later at a gathering in the UK capital.

“This is the organization's event, FIFA’s jurisdiction, we decide those decisions,” the vice-president stated. “Respectfully to sitting presidents, football is more important than political figures and the game will survive their tenure and their leadership. It's the essence of football, that it is bigger than a single person and beyond individual states.”

LA Games Warning

During the event, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about the Massachusetts city extended to a similar threat regarding the LA Olympic event.

“In case I thought Los Angeles was not sufficiently organized, I would shift it to a different city if I had to,” he said. “Regarding that event I may have to obtain a alternative approval, but we would take that action.”

Any approval Trump refers to would must come through the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The head, the newly elected president, was chosen to her post in March and has not yet hold a public appearance with the former president, although she stated that she desires a sit-down with Trump at a future time.

Additional Criticism

Trump also condemned California governor Newsom’s response of recent California fires, saying that a parallel incident could lead to the cancellation of the Games.

“In case he doesn’t play ball, we will have to be firm,” Trump commented.

His statement was just as direct for Boston.

“Boston must address these issues,” he remarked. “That is my message.”