President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday creating a task force to oversee the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and he’s putting himself in charge of it.
The task force will coordinate federal planning for transportation, security and visa processing for the 2028 games. Mr. Trump said he’s directing agencies like the State Department and Justice Department to “use every tool at their disposal to ensure a fantastic, safe and beautiful event.”
The president will personally chair the task force — in line with a similar Trump-led task force to oversee preparations for the 2026 World Cup — and Vice President JD Vance will serve as its vice chair. Other members include Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
In response to questions from reporters, the president said Tuesday, “we’ll do anything necessary to keep the Olympics safe, including using our National Guard or military.”
The Trump-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act sets aside $1 billion in federal funding to pay for security and planning for the Olympics, plus $625 million for World Cup security.
Separately, in Feburary, Mr. Trump signed an executive order directing the office of the secretary of state and homeland security secretary to “review and adjust” policies permitting transgender athletes and issue guidance to try to prevent them from entering the U.S. The order also directed the secretary of state to press the International Olympic Committee to stop transgender athletes from competing in women’s sporting events.
Last month, the IOC said the federations that oversee Olympic sports have an “obligation to comply” with the executive order. On Tuesday, the president said athletes will face a “very strong form of testing” to ensure compliance.
The International Olympic Committee awarded the 2028 Olympics to Los Angeles in 2017, during Mr. Trump’s first term in office — which the president noted during Tuesday’s executive order-signing event.
“When we got it, I said, ‘it’s too bad I won’t be president then,'” Mr. Trump said. “We took a very circuitous route, didn’t we?”
Casey Wasserman, the chair and president of the LA Olympics, thanked Mr. Trump for his support in brief remarks Tuesday — and presented the president with medals from the 1984 Olympics.
“Can I say that I won them athletically?” the president asked.
“Yes, sir,” Wasserman responded.
