LA28 Adds Several Trump Allies to 2028 Olympics Board, Tightening White House Ties

Los Angeles’ organizing committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games has added a slate of new board members whose ties to President Donald Trump are prominent, a move that sharpens the committee’s direct access to the White House.

The newly listed directors include longtime Republican operative Reince Priebus, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Wisconsin donor Diane Hendricks, Dallas Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont (son-in-law of major GOP supporter Miriam Adelson), and investment banker Ken Moelis, who worked with Trump in the 1990s. Also joining the board are Los Angeles business consultant Denita Willoughby and philanthropist Maria Hummer-Tuttle. At the same time, Paralympic medalist Muffy Davis is stepping down from the board.

Before this update, the LA28 board was largely composed of former Olympians, Hollywood executives and sports and corporate leaders with little overt partisan branding. Elaine Chao, who served as Transportation secretary in Trump’s first term but broke with him after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, joined the board in January.

The new appointments come at a politically charged moment: the Olympics, the U.S. Semiquincentennial (the country’s 250th anniversary in 2026) and the World Cup fall within the same presidential term, increasing the stakes for event organizers and international sports bodies when it comes to relations with the White House. Critics note that the new slate effectively brings easier access to the president at a time when he has publicly pressured Democratic-led cities that host major events; Los Angeles has in recent months been the subject of presidential criticism, including deployments of federal forces that drew widespread attention.

International sports leaders have also stepped up engagement with the president. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has made multiple Oval Office visits this year and famously left one meeting with a gold trophy that he allowed the president to keep; FIFA subsequently commissioned a replica for the tournament winners. Infantino has introduced a new "FIFA Peace Prize," which some observers expect could be presented to the president at an upcoming World Cup-related ceremony.

Casey Wasserman, chair of LA28 and a donor to Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign, has also courted the president. In August, Wasserman presented Donald Trump with commemorative medals from the 1984 Los Angeles Games during a signing ceremony that established a federal task force for the 2028 event; Trump now chairs that task force, which is charged with helping ensure the Games are "safe, seamless and historically successful."

"We are thrilled to welcome this accomplished group to the LA28 Board who will help create an unforgettable Games for athletes and fans alike," Wasserman said in a statement.

The shifts on the LA28 board have prompted discussion about the role of partisan ties in organizing major international events. Supporters argue the new members bring political influence and fundraising heft that can benefit security and logistics, while critics worry the appointments could politicize an event that traditionally emphasizes international cooperation and athletic achievement.