Trump forms task force to oversee 'safe, seamless' 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

President Donald Trump has launched a federal task force aimed at ensuring the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles are 'safe, seamless, and historically successful'.

The group, which he will chair alongside Vice President JD Vance as vice-chair, will coordinate federal involvement in the Games, giving Trump and his administration potential influence over the event’s security and logistics.

Signing the executive order on Tuesday, Trump emphasised that his administration would do 'anything necessary' to safeguard the Games, including deploying the National Guard or military if needed.



His remarks come amid ongoing tension with California leaders, particularly Governor Gavin Newsom, after Trump unilaterally ordered National Guard deployment in June to suppress protests against federal immigration raids in Los Angeles. That move, made without state approval, drew criticism from both city and state officials.

Trump also reignited his feud with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, calling her 'not very competent', referencing her handling of wildfires earlier in the year.

Despite the political friction, Casey Wasserman, chair of the LA 2028 Olympic organising committee, joined Trump for the announcement and praised his support. Wasserman even offered Trump the opportunity to carry the Olympic torch again, as he did in New York before the 2004 Athens Games.


The 2028 Olympics, awarded to Los Angeles in 2017 during Trump’s first term, will coincide with another major global event hosted by the US - the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Trump used the occasion to double down on his stance against transgender athletes, vowing that 'men will not steal trophies from women at the 2028 Olympics'. When asked about testing protocols, he promised strict gender verification measures for all competitors.

The task force signals Trump’s intent to make a visible mark on the country’s upcoming role as a global sporting host.