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LA Olympics adds prominent Trump allies to its board, drawing criticism
US President Donald Trump (right) looks on as LA 2028 Chairman Casey Wasserman (left) speaks during an event on creating a White House 2028 Olympics task force.
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Brendan Smialowski
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Getty Images
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The Los Angeles Olympic organizing committee has added a number of Republicans and prominent allies of President Donald Trump to its ranks, sparking pushback from local progressive labor and community groups.
The new members include former House Speaker and California Republican Kevin McCarthy and Reince Priebus, who served as Chief of Staff during part of Trump's first term. Billionaire Trump donor Diane Hendricks, Trump's former banker Ken Moelis and Patrick Dumont, son-in-law of Trump donor Miriam Adelson, also joined the list. The volunteer board of directors oversees LA28, the private organization staging the Olympic Games.
The new additions mean Trump allies have nearly the same representation on the board as the city's six appointees.
The news, first reported by POLITICO, signals the growing influence of Trump on the 2028 Olympic Games, which is depending on federal financial support for security during the mega event.
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How are community groups responding?
A group of Los Angeles community groups led by hotel workers union Unite Here Local 11 criticized the board's new make-up on Friday.
"LA28 cannot credibly claim to represent the working people of Los Angeles or stand with immigrant communities while letting MAGA enthusiasts sit at the table," the Fair Games Coalition said in a statement.
That coalition includes the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, ACLU of Southern California and the teachers union United Teachers Los Angeles.
"They are packing the board with Trump acolytes," said Unite Here Local 11 co-president Kurt Petersen. "They have crossed the Rubicon, we are losing control of these Olympics. We all need to say enough is enough."
Mayor Karen Bass's office struck a different tone in response to the news, pointing out the mayor's long friendship with Kevin McCarthy.
"Mayor Bass is looking forward to working with LA28’s new appointees to the LA28 Board of Directors and all who are committed to the success of the Games," her office said in a statement. "Especially Kevin McCarthy who — first and foremost — is a friend and had a productive working relationship with the mayor while working together in Sacramento and in Congress."
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LA28 declined to comment on the concerns of community groups. But the organization did share a statement from LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman.
"We are thrilled to welcome this accomplished group to the LA28 Board who will help create an unforgettable Games for athletes and fans alike," he said.
Federal government's role in the Olympics
The federal government's role in the Olympic Games has been the focus of persistent scrutiny since Trump returned to office. At a recent City Council committee meeting on the Olympics, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield expressed concern that federal funds for the Games might be withheld.
"What I'm concerned about is while they're being cooperative now, at some point they're gonna do what they've done with funding to universities and others. And they're going to create a condition that we cannot meet," Blumenfield said of the federal government. "What protections do we have in place to protect us against that kind of last minute extortion?"
Over the summer, Trump formed a federal task force on Olympics security and named himself the chair. The move came as federal immigration enforcement ramped up in Southern California, sparking questions about what federal involvement in the Olympics could mean for the city.
At that news conference, Wasserman presented Trump with a full set of Olympic medals from the 1984 L.A. Olympics.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
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