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Ex-president Trump has once again stated he would influence FIFA to pull upcoming World Cup events from a venue based on that city's governance, with Massachusetts becoming the third such city to receive such threats from the US president. Moreover, Trump suggested he would evaluate parallel steps against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to possible safety issues.

Jurisdictional Limits and Potential Influence

Even though Trump holds no official jurisdiction to directly relocate either competition, he is able to apply pressure the respective governing bodies managing each event to move venues.

Setting for Statements

His statements were made during a press event with Argentinian president Milei, who was present in the executive mansion following the disclosure of a $20 billion rescue package for the Argentine country. At the close of the meeting, a reporter questioned Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where authorities were assaulted and a patrol car was set on fire. The correspondent also asked if the situation could result in the revocation of hosting duties for the 48-team football competition.

“I would take them away,” he remarked about the FIFA World Cup fixtures, set to be held at the Massachusetts arena. “The city's leader is ineffective … they're extremist, and they are dominating sections of the city. That is a significant assertion, don't you think?”

Street Takeovers and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a online-fueled trend where large crowds congregate on public avenues late at night to engage in dangerous driving, have become a frequent problem in metropolitan centers since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. Latest such gatherings have become aggressive in the region, notably in the city. Nevertheless, these gatherings are typically not considered tied to any particular political ideology.

“When a mayor is doing a bad job, and I believe exist dangerous circumstances, I would call the FIFA head, who is outstanding, and suggest it should be shifted to an alternate venue,” he said on Tuesday. “He will do that. He might not prefer to do it, but he would comply. Very easily, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has made no secret his attempts to be publicly aligned with the former president prior to the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to be staged in numerous American venues across the United States along with several in the northern neighbor and three in Mexico. The organization's leader has appeared at various White House events, facilitated Trump hand over the FIFA club award after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to accompany Trump on a trip to the Arab region this year.

Past Statements

Despite this, Trump from warning about the cancellation of FIFA World Cup events from different locations. In late September, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis faced comparable comments, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “led by radical left lunatics who are clueless what they are doing,” while criticizing the security conditions of both cities and claiming that events could be shifted.

FIFA Response

The organization's deputy Montagliani dismissed Trump’s statements when he responded days later at a gathering in England.

“It is the organization's event, under our authority, we decide such choices,” Montagliani said. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is transcends political figures and the game will endure their regime and their leadership. It's the essence of our game, that it is more significant than a single person and more important than a nation.”

2028 Comments

On Tuesday, Trump’s response to a inquiry about Boston included a comparable warning regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“When I perceived the city was failing to be sufficiently organized, I will relocate it to a different city if necessary,” he said. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to get a alternative permission, but we will proceed.”

The permission Trump mentioned would have to come through the IOC. Their leader, the newly elected president, was selected to her role in spring and has yet to appear together with Trump, but she indicated that she hopes for a meeting with him at some point.

Additional Criticism

He also condemned the state's leader Newsom’s response of the blazes, saying that a similar situation could lead to the cancellation of the event.

“When he doesn’t play ball, we will have to be firm,” Trump stated.

His statement was equally clear for Boston.

“They better improve their situation,” he said. “That is I will say.”