Trump Sets Up White House Task Force to Tackle Security for 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles
Security planning for the 2028 Olympics has taken centre stage at the White House. President Donald Trump has announced he will sign an executive order establishing a dedicated task force to oversee preparations for the Los Angeles Games.
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, confirmed the move on Tuesday, telling The Times that Trump “considers it a great honour to oversee this global sporting spectacle.”
The president has long claimed credit for helping secure the Games for the US. Leavitt added: “During his first term, President Trump was instrumental in securing America’s bid to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Sports is one of President Trump’s greatest passions, and his athletic expertise, combined with his unmatched hospitality experience, will make these Olympic events the most exciting and memorable in history.”
The move ties into what Trump dubbed his “Big Beautiful Bill,” which funnelled $1 billion into planning, security and logistics for the upcoming sporting extravaganza.
While the announcement signals federal backing, the details remain murky. City officials in Los Angeles and the LA28 Organising Committee, responsible for delivering the Olympics and Paralympics, are still hammering out who foots the bill for key services.
Everything from extra policing and paramedic cover to rubbish collection and traffic control will be needed. And it won’t be cheap. The city only just patched up a near-$1 billion budget hole, partly by slowing police recruitment. Extra costs, such as overtime for officers, could hit hard.
Under a 2021 agreement, LA28 must reimburse the city for “enhanced services” that go beyond what it usually provides. Both sides face a deadline of 1 October 2025 to agree on repayment terms, audits, and service rates.
Casey Wasserman, chair of LA28, struck a positive note: “Since we secured this historic opportunity in 2017, President Trump has consistently recognised the magnitude of our responsibility in welcoming the world to Los Angeles.
The creation of this task force marks an important step forward in our planning efforts and reflects our shared commitment to delivering not just the biggest, but the greatest Games the world has ever seen in the summer of 2028.”
He also thanked the Trump administration “for their leadership and unwavering support as we prepare to deliver the largest and most ambitious Olympic and Paralympic Games ever hosted in the United States.”
The Los Angeles Games are expected to draw millions of spectators and athletes from around the globe, turning the city into a high-security zone for weeks. The Olympics will run for 17 days, followed closely by the Paralympics.
With the clock ticking towards 2028, the focus now shifts to whether the new White House task force can balance national pride with local concerns about who pays, who plans, and who protects.
