Donald Trump has never watched the Olympics with great interest. But things are changing. The US president now appears to be considering the rings with increased attention. The proof lies in two facts.
The first is indisputable. Donald Trump attended an official and very formal meeting on Tuesday, February 18, in the glitzy luxury of the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, with representatives of the organizing committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Games and the American Olympic and Paralympic Committee ( USOPC). It started a little after 16 p.m. local time.
Among the participants, in addition to Donald Trump and Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of Homeland Security: Casey Wasserman, the president of LA 2028, Janet Evans, the vice president, Susanne Lyons, the president of the USOPC, and Sarah Hirshland , the general director.
Among the absentees, the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti. The elected Democrat has never hidden his opposition to Donald Trump, particularly on issues related to immigration. He avoids appearing alongside him, even in his own city. We understand it.
On the agenda of the meeting, the signing of a formal commitment by the American government to the Los Angeles 2028 Games. It was planned. In the United States, it borders on habit.
Donald Trump confirmed it on Tuesday afternoon: the federal state will contribute to the organization of the Olympic and Paralympic event in California. His stone and his silver.
As with previous Games on American soil, including Atlanta 1996 and Salt Lake City 2002, the American administration will grant the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics the status “ national special security event”. In practice, this will translate into support in terms of security, transport, telecommunications and respect for the environment.
Comment from Donald Trump: “ We will provide them with considerable support. They will need support from the federal government to make this really work. »
The White House tenant also suggested that the Los Angeles 2028 Games would create 112.000 jobs and, as a bonus, inject $18 billion into the American economy. Cool.
Reaction from Casey Wasseman, the president of LA 28, also a Democrat: “ Our goal is to deliver a safe, successful and secure Olympic Games. And this will not be possible without the support that you and the federal government will give us. »
Another proof of the very Olympic posture chosen by Donald Trump in this week which is also very focused on collecting donations for his electoral campaign: the announcement of a possible visit to the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The American president announced it himself: he was invited by the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, to attend the Tokyo 2020 Games. And he could well accept the invitation.
« We will consider it, he assured the media. I've never done it, but I could do it. In any case, I'll try. »
Donald Trump was invited, like all heads of state, to the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games. But he did not make the trip to South Korea, where he was represented by his daughter, Ivanka, very present and very visible in the stands of the Olympic events.
But the American president visited Japan twice last year. The first time in May, shortly after Japanese Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne. Then a second, in June, to attend a G20 summit in Osaka.
