— Published January 21, 2025

Should the Olympic movement fear Donald Trump's comeback?

Institutions Focus

Donald Trump is back in business. The Republican officially began his second term as President of the United States on Monday, January 20, after four years away from the Oval Office. The man with the red tie is not one for observation rounds, and he promised to tackle a number of issues without delay, including the fight against illegal immigration through the largest deportation program in American history, according to his words. What about issues related to sport and the Olympic movement?

The trust contract

The new president will travel to Los Angeles in the coming days to take stock of the firefighting, provide support to residents and begin rebuilding. In the background, of course, are the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the prospect of which will undoubtedly boost efforts to restore the city to its former glory. “This is America’s Olympic Games. It’s more important than ever to Los Angeles, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make it the best it can be.”, Donald Trump is said to have assured according to Axios. Casey Wassermann, president of COJOP, himself met him last Wednesday. He stressed "continued support" from the president towards Los Angeles: “We are grateful for his unwavering commitment to LA28 and the leadership he has played in bringing the Summer Games back to the United States. We look forward to working with him and his administration to deliver a Games our nation can be proud of.” As early as 2016, a few weeks before taking office, Trump had spoken with Thomas Bach to affirm his support for Los Angeles' Olympic bid. In an interview with DPA, the IOC president confirmed this sentiment last week, praising the fact that Trump was a "sports fan at heart" and that he had done "campaign in one way or another for the World Cup and the Olympics".

His war against wokeness transposed into sport?

Trump met with Gianni Infantino at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in recent days. The result was a photo of the two men, all smiles, and a FIFA president looking wowed. “We discussed this summer’s Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup, both of which the United States will host. Thank you, Mr. President, for your time and for your support of FIFA over the coming months.” To drive the point home, Trump publicly thanked Infantino, who was present in the assembly, for awarding the 2026 World Cup during his inauguration speech in Washington, welcoming the « great moments » on the horizon with this World Cup and the Olympic Games. No particular fear, therefore, this time, despite the unpredictable nature of the new tenant of the White House: Trump should not hit the anthill. In this area, in any case.

During his campaign, Donald Trump hammered home his aversion to "transgender delirium". A marker of his fight against LGBTQIA+ rights, and more generally of what he calls wokeism. He did not hesitate to imply that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was a man in his eyes at the Paris Olympics. He promised, upon his return to the White House, to sign decrees to "Exclude transgender people from the military, primary schools, middle schools and high schools". A violent speech that he intends to apply in sport in "keeping men out of women's sport" in his words. The return of the Games to American soil, 26 years after Salt Lake City 2002, will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of his term. Donald Trump will certainly want to shine in the spotlight, a few months before the end of his term. By showing his own vision of the United States, even if it means offending certain communities.