On August 5, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the establishment of a task force dedicated to the planning and execution of the 2028 Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles. During a signing ceremony at the White House, Trump emphasized the importance of ensuring that the event is "safe, seamless, and historically successful," making this the first Olympics hosted in the U.S. since the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The formation of this task force reflects the extensive planning required for hosting the Olympics and highlights Trump's personal interest in participating in what he described as one of the highlights of his term. "The L.A. Olympics is shaping up to be a wonderful moment for America. It’s going to be incredible. It’s so exciting," Trump remarked during the executive order signing.
The executive order mandates that the task force coordinate various aspects crucial for the Games, including security measures, visa processing, and credentialing for athletes, coaches, media, and visitors. Trump stated, "We’ll do anything necessary to keep the Olympics safe," indicating potential involvement of the National Guard or military, referencing prior deployments of National Guard troops to response immigration protests in Los Angeles earlier this year.
Trump will chair the task force, with Vice President JD Vance serving as vice chair. Other prominent members include multiple Cabinet secretaries and administration officials, such as Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who were present during the announcement. The event also featured Olympic champion gymnast Nastia Liukin and Brad Snyder, a competitor from the 2012 Paralympic Games.
During the ceremony, Trump commended Gene Sykes, chair of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), for their decision to effectively ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports. "The United States will not let men steal trophies from women at the 2028 Olympics," Trump declared, expressing surprise at the lack of immediate applause in the room for his statement before receiving some claps from attendees.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also commented, asserting that Trump views overseeing the Olympics as "a great honor" and describing sports as one of his greatest passions. LA28 President Casey Wasserman presented Trump with a collection of gold, silver, and bronze medals from the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles as a symbol of the upcoming event’s significance.
Wasserman remarked that the task force is "an important step forward in our planning efforts" and demonstrates a shared commitment to delivering "not just the biggest, but the greatest Games the world has ever seen in the summer of 2028."
Besides the 2028 Olympics, Trump is also looking forward to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. On the same day as the Olympics task force announcement, representatives from the three nations convened for their first trilateral coordinating council meeting, involving government officials, industry leaders, and security experts to discuss various issues, including preparations for potential security threats ahead of the World Cup.
