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Ex-president Trump has once again declared he would pressure FIFA to remove 2026 World Cup matches from a designated city based on the local politics, with the Boston region emerging as the latest such city to receive such warnings from the White House. Furthermore, Trump remarked he would contemplate parallel steps against Southern California for the upcoming Olympic Games due to perceived safety issues.

Jurisdictional Limits and Possible Pressure

While Trump lacks direct legal authority to unilaterally remove either tournament, he can lobby the international organizations in charge of each event to shift venues.

Background of Comments

These remarks were made during a media briefing with Argentina's leader Milei, who was at the presidential residence following the announcement of a $20 billion bailout for the Latin American country. At the conclusion of the meeting, a journalist asked Trump about a recent “street takeover” in downtown Boston where authorities were assaulted and a police vehicle was ignited. The journalist also questioned if the situation could cause the loss of tournament responsibilities for the larger football competition.

“We could take them away,” Trump said regarding the World Cup matches, planned to be held at Gillette Stadium. “Their mayor is poor … she is extremist, and activists are dominating sections of the city. That is a major assertion, isn't it?”

Urban Disturbances and Ideological Perceptions

Unauthorized gatherings, a social media-driven occurrence where groups of people assemble on public avenues late at night to perform stunts, have been a frequent problem in American cities since the coronavirus restrictions. Recent incidents have become aggressive in the region, specifically in downtown. However, these gatherings are generally not considered tied to any specific political ideology.

“In cases where a mayor is performing poorly, and I feel there’s dangerous circumstances, I'd call Gianni [Infantino], who is excellent, and tell him we should relocate it to another location,” he said on Tuesday. “And he would do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he would comply. Readily, he’d do it.”

Organizational Alignment

FIFA President has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be visibly associated with the US leader prior to next year’s tournament, set to be organized in multiple US locations across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and a few in Mexico. The organization's leader has appeared at several presidential gatherings, arranged for Trump hand over the club tournament trophy after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his FIFA's internal meeting to travel with Trump on a visit to the Middle East this year.

Past Statements

This has not stopped, Trump from warning about the removal of World Cup events from additional American venues. On September 25, the Washington city and the Bay Area metropolis were similar statements, with Trump stating both urban centers were “led by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they are doing,” while criticizing the public safety of both locales and claiming that matches could be relocated.

Official Rebuttal

Victor Montagliani rejected Trump’s claims when he reacted days later at a event in London.

“It is FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, FIFA makes these matters,” the vice-president stated. “With all due respect to national heads, soccer is bigger than political figures and football will survive their tenure and their government. That is the strength of our game, that it is transcends a single person and bigger than any country.”

Olympics Threat

Similarly, Trump’s reply to a query about the Massachusetts city extended to a similar threat regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“If I believed Los Angeles was not adequately ready, I will move it to an alternate venue as needed,” Trump stated. “For the Olympics I’d probably have to get a varying consent, but we would take that action.”

Official consent Trump mentioned would must come via the Olympic governing body. The leader, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her post in spring and has yet to meet publicly with him, although she indicated that she desires a sit-down with him at some point.

Further Comments

The former president also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s handling of recent blazes, stating that a comparable scenario could cause the removal of the Olympics.

“If the governor refuses to cooperate, we will have to be very tough,” the former president commented.

His message was similarly unambiguous for Boston.

“They better clean up their act,” he said. “That’s all I will say.”