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Ex-president Trump has repeatedly announced he would pressure FIFA to relocate upcoming World Cup events from a designated city based on that city's politics, with Boston emerging as the most recent such city to encounter such threats from the US president. Moreover, Trump suggested he would evaluate parallel steps against Los Angeles for the upcoming Olympic Games due to possible safety issues.

Legal Authority and Possible Pressure

Even though Trump holds no formal power to directly relocate either event, he can apply pressure the international organizations in charge of each tournament to change host cities.

Setting for Statements

These remarks were made during a news conference with Javier Milei, who was visiting the executive mansion following the disclosure of a massive financial assistance for the Argentine economy. Near the end of the event, a journalist asked Trump about a recent public disturbance in downtown Boston where law enforcement were targeted and a patrol car was burned. The reporter also wondered if these incidents could cause the revocation of hosting duties for the larger football competition.

“It's possible to take them away,” the former president remarked regarding the soccer fixtures, scheduled to be staged at Gillette Stadium. “Their mayor is not good … they're extremist, and they are occupying areas of downtown. That is a major claim, right?”

Urban Disturbances and Political Context

Street takeovers, a social media-driven phenomenon where groups of people gather on urban roads after dark to engage in dangerous driving, have emerged as a ongoing issue in US urban areas since the coronavirus restrictions. Recent incidents have escalated into violence in the region, notably in downtown. However, these occurrences are usually not seen as associated with any specific ideological group.

“If a mayor is failing, and I perceive exist unsafe conditions, I'd call Gianni [Infantino], who is phenomenal, and say we should relocate it to a different city,” Trump said publicly. “He will do that. He might not prefer the action, but he would comply. Very easily, he'd comply.”

FIFA Relationship

The organization's head has been open his strategies to be visibly associated with the former president ahead of the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to be organized in 11 cities across the US along with two in the northern neighbor and a few in the southern neighbor. The organization's leader has participated at various White House events, had Trump deliver the Club World Cup trophy after the concluding game, and has even postponed his FIFA's internal meeting to accompany Trump on a journey to the Gulf states previously.

Earlier Warnings

Despite this, Trump from warning about the cancellation of FIFA World Cup events from additional American venues. On September 25, Seattle and the Bay Area metropolis were comparable comments, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “run by far-left extremists who lack understanding what they're managing,” while criticizing the public safety of both cities and claiming that events could be shifted.

Official Rebuttal

FIFA vice-president Montagliani rejected Trump’s assertions when he responded afterward at a gathering in the UK capital.

“It’s the organization's event, under our authority, the organization determines those decisions,” the vice-president said. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is more important than them and the game will outlast their tenure and their government. That is the beauty of football, that it is transcends one leader and beyond individual states.”

LA Games Warning

During the event, Trump’s answer to a query about the Massachusetts city included a comparable warning regarding the LA Olympic event.

“When I thought Los Angeles was not going to be adequately ready, I will move it to another location as needed,” Trump stated. “On that one I’d probably have to obtain a alternative approval, but we'd take that action.”

Any approval Trump mentioned would have to come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their head, she, was elected to her position in this year and has not yet hold a public appearance with Trump, but she indicated that she would like a discussion with him at a future time.

Additional Criticism

The former president also criticized California governor Newsom’s handling of recent LA wildfires, remarking that a comparable scenario could lead to the cancellation of the event.

“When he refuses to cooperate, we are going to have to be very tough,” he commented.

The warning was similarly unambiguous for Boston.

“Boston must address these issues,” Trump stated. “That is I can say.”