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Ex-president Trump has repeatedly announced he would pressure FIFA to remove upcoming World Cup events from a designated city based on that city's political climate, with the Boston region becoming the most recent targeted location to face such threats from the US president. Furthermore, Trump indicated he would consider parallel steps against Southern California for the 2028 Summer Games due to potential security concerns.

Official Power and Possible Pressure

Although Trump holds no formal power to directly relocate either event, he can exert influence the international organizations in charge of each event to shift venues.

Context of Remarks

The statements were made during a media briefing with Javier Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the disclosure of a multibillion-dollar rescue package for the Latin American nation. Toward the close of the event, a journalist asked Trump about a latest “street takeover” in downtown Boston where authorities were targeted and a patrol car was ignited. The journalist also wondered if these incidents could cause the loss of organizing rights for the larger World Cup.

“We could take them away,” the former president said regarding the World Cup matches, scheduled to be staged at the Foxborough venue. “She is ineffective … they're extremist, and activists are occupying parts of Boston. That is a major assertion, isn't it?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Street takeovers, a social media-driven occurrence where large crowds gather on city streets during nighttime to perform stunts, have been a repeated nuisance in metropolitan centers since the lockdown closures. Recent similar events have turned violent in Massachusetts, specifically in Boston. However, these occurrences are usually not considered associated with any particular partisan agenda.

“If a city is doing a bad job, and I believe exist unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and say let’s move it to another location,” Trump said during the event. “He will do that. He may not enjoy doing it, but he'd agree. Very easily, he'd comply.”

FIFA Relationship

FIFA President has publicly acknowledged his efforts to be visibly associated with Trump before next year’s tournament, scheduled to be hosted in multiple US locations across the United States along with two in the northern neighbor and three in the southern neighbor. The head has been present at several presidential gatherings, arranged for Trump deliver the Club World Cup award after the concluding game, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to travel with Trump on a trip to the Gulf states this year.

Previous Threats

Nevertheless, Trump from threatening the removal of soccer matches from other US host cities. In late September, Seattle and San Francisco were similar comments, with Trump asserting both cities were “led by far-left extremists who are clueless what they're managing,” while questioning the security conditions of both locales and implying that events could be relocated.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani rejected Trump’s statements when he reacted subsequently at a event in England.

“This is the organization's event, FIFA’s jurisdiction, the organization determines such choices,” he said. “With all due respect to current world leaders, soccer is transcends them and the game will outlast their administration and their leadership. That is the strength of this sport, that it is more significant than one leader and more important than any country.”

LA Games Warning

On Tuesday, Trump’s response to a question about Boston included a comparable warning regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“When I believed the city was not going to be adequately ready, I would shift it to a different city if I had to,” he said. “On that one I’d probably have to obtain a different kind of approval, but we would do that.”

The permission Trump alluded to would need to come through the Olympic governing body. Their head, the newly elected president, was chosen to her post in March and has so far not appear together with the former president, though she indicated that she desires a sit-down with Trump at eventually.

Further Comments

The former president also questioned Gavin Newsom’s handling of the California fires, saying that a similar situation could result in the removal of the Games.

“When Newsom doesn’t play ball, we’re gonna have to be firm,” the former president stated.

The warning was equally clear for the Massachusetts city.

“The city should clean up their act,” he said. “That is I will say.”