Trump Establishes Special Task Force for LA Olympics, Appoints Himself Chair with Vance as Vice Chair

According to an AFP report on August 5, Donald Trump, determined to intervene in preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, established a task force on the 5th with himself as chair. The move could spark friction with Democratic officials in the host state.

The Republican U.S. president signed the task force’s founding document in front of cameras, pledging to "mobilize the entire federal government to ensure (the Olympics and Paralympics) are safe and a historic success."

The task force includes multiple cabinet-level officials, key advisors, and Vice President Vance.

"We will use every tool available, including the National Guard and active-duty military, to secure the events," Trump said. In June, he had controversially deployed the National Guard to California over the objections of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.

On the 5th, Trump again criticized the California governor and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, whom he called "utterly incompetent," accusing them of mishandling the devastating wildfires that struck LA in January.

Trump’s hostility toward California’s Democratic leadership has raised concerns about potential friction in Olympic preparations.

However, no tension was visible during his August 5 meeting at the White House with LA Olympics Committee Chair Casey Wasserman. "You’ve always supported and helped us—none of this progress would be possible without you," Wasserman told Trump.

The report noted that as a passionate sports enthusiast, Trump’s second term coincides with two major international events in the U.S.: the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. The president, who has enforced multiple policies targeting transgender athletes since January, emphasized on the 5th: "America will never allow men to steal women’s medals at the 2028 Olympics."