One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Lakers Cancel Plans To Stay At Trump Hotel, Cite 'Security Concerns'
D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers have canceled their plans to stay at the Trump Soho hotel in New York City on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a team spokesperson.
Coming off their sixth consecutive loss on Sunday night, this news initially seemed like the most exciting thing the Lakers had done as of late, but don't celebrate yet. A source close to the team "emphasized that the decision to switch hotels was not politically motivated," according to the L.A. Times. Boring.
Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed to LAist that the move "was not predicated on any political reasons," saying that the team altered their original plans to stay at the Trump-branded hotel (he no longer actually operates it ) because of security concerns. Black declined to discuss those security concerns, although the Times cites the potential for possible protests at the hotel that may disrupt the players' schedules.
This purple-and-gold non-ideology stands in contrast to the refusal of LeBron James and several fellow Cleveland Cavaliers to stay at the Trump Soho hotel earlier this month. James said his decision to cancel his stay at the hotel—the Cavs were in town to play the Nets—was a "personal preference." The Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks have also all moved from staying at Trump-branded hotels, according to ESPN.
Considering the fact that an extremely meager 23.4% of Angelenos cast their ballots for Donald Trump, we remain confused as to why the Lakers didn't just say their reasons were political. Seems like it could have been an easy way to curry favor with the locals, especially given the team's losing season and current lack of star power!
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
