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Ex-president Trump has repeatedly announced he would urge FIFA to pull global soccer tournament matches from a venue based on that city's governance, with Boston now being the most recent such city to face such threats from the US president. Additionally, Trump indicated he would contemplate comparable measures against Los Angeles for the upcoming Olympic Games due to perceived security concerns.

Official Power and Informal Leverage

Although Trump lacks formal power to unilaterally remove either competition, he may apply pressure the international organizations managing each competition to move host cities.

Context of Remarks

The remarks were made during a media briefing with Argentina's leader Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the announcement of a multibillion-dollar bailout for the South American country. Toward the end of the gathering, a journalist questioned Trump about a current unauthorized gathering in downtown Boston where authorities were assaulted and a patrol car was ignited. The correspondent also questioned if the situation could lead to the removal of tournament responsibilities for the 48-team soccer tournament.

“We could take them away,” he stated about the World Cup fixtures, set to be hosted at the Foxborough venue. “She is not good … they're radical left, and activists are occupying parts of downtown. That is a pretty big claim, right?”

Public Gatherings and Public Safety Concerns

Street takeovers, a social media-driven trend where groups of people assemble on urban roads after dark to perform stunts, have become a ongoing problem in US urban areas since the lockdown restrictions. Latest incidents have turned violent in the state, including the city. However, these occurrences are usually not considered tied to any specific partisan agenda.

“In cases where a mayor is performing poorly, and I feel there’s security risks, I will call the FIFA head, who is phenomenal, and tell him let’s move it to a different city,” he commented on Tuesday. “And he would do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it. Without hesitation, he would.”

FIFA Relationship

Gianni Infantino has made no secret his efforts to be publicly aligned with the former president prior to the upcoming World Cup, set to be organized in numerous American venues across the America along with two in the northern neighbor and a few in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has been present at various Oval Office events, facilitated Trump hand over the Club World Cup trophy after the championship match, and has even rescheduled his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a visit to the Gulf states this year.

Previous Threats

This has not stopped, Trump from threatening the relocation of World Cup matches from other US host cities. In late September, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis faced comparable criticism, with Trump claiming both urban centers were “run by ideological activists who don’t know what they're managing,” while challenging the safety level of both areas and implying that matches could be relocated.

FIFA Response

FIFA vice-president Montagliani dismissed Trump’s claims when he commented subsequently at a conference in the UK capital.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, our responsibility, FIFA makes those decisions,” Montagliani stated. “With all due respect to sitting presidents, the sport is bigger than them and soccer will survive their regime and their leadership. That is the strength of our game, that it is bigger than one leader and bigger than any country.”

Olympics Threat

During the event, Trump’s reply to a query about Boston included a parallel statement regarding the LA Olympic event.

“When I believed Los Angeles was not sufficiently organized, I will shift it to another location if I had to,” Trump stated. “On that one I might have to secure a alternative permission, but we would take that action.”

The permission Trump refers to would must come through the IOC. The leader, the newly elected president, was elected to her post in spring and has so far not appear together with him, although she said that she desires a discussion with him at a future time.

Further Comments

Trump also questioned California governor Newsom’s response of recent blazes, stating that a parallel incident could lead to the removal of the event.

“When the governor is uncooperative, we will have to be firm,” Trump commented.

The warning was similarly unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“The city better improve their situation,” Trump stated. “That’s all I can say.”