International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach says he will not contact President-elect Trump before he leaves office at the end of this year.
Bach told DPA International News that he congratulated Trump on the Republican’s election victory in November, but has not sought any further communication beyond that.
“I don’t think it’s really fair or right, with respect to my successor, to seek contact again now and maybe influence any decisions that will then fall to my successor,” Bach said of not speaking to Trump.
The IOC will have its own presidential election in March and Bach is set to step down in June.
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Bach’s lack of communication with Trump comes as the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles have called into question the viability of Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics.
At the moment, there are no plans to move the 2028 Games outside of Los Angeles. The 2028 Games would be the first in history in which the host city would not have to build new venues due to the number of stadiums and arenas in the city. But many of the areas where those places are located have been decimated by fires.
Olympic venues near areas affected by the fires include Riviera Country Club, Olympic Village, Pauley Pavilion and Rose Bowl Stadium.
The Washburn Fire burns on a hillside in Yosemite National Park, California, on July 9, 2022. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
LA2028 president Casey Wasserman said in a statement that he was confident Los Angeles would recover from the wildfires and that they would not undermine the Olympics.
“Los Angeles is defined by its resilience and determination,” Wasserman said. “The strength of our communities and our unity in difficult times make this city extraordinary, and when Los Angeles welcomes the world in 2028, our spirit will shine brighter than ever.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom told NBC News that the state is “putting together a Marshall plan” to ensure the Olympics can still begin in Los Angeles in 2028.
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“President Donald Trump was a huge help in bringing the Olympics to the United States of America, in getting them here in Los Angeles. We thank him for that. This is an opportunity for him to shine, for this country to shine, for California and this community shine,” Newsom said.
“That’s why we’re already putting together a Marshall plan. We already have a team looking, reinventing LA 2.0, and we’re making sure everyone is included.”
However, some have criticized the prospect of the city being able to host the Olympics amid what are expected to be years of reconstruction.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said in an interview with Newsmax that he believes the Olympics should be moved to a Republican-controlled city and state.
“I think the American people rightly see how poorly that state is being run, how poorly the governor and, of course, the mayor of Los Angeles have handled these tragic fires,” Jordan said.
Burned buildings in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, as smoke from the Palisades Fire rises in the background in Los Angeles on January 10, 2025. (Reuters/Mike Blake)
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk also suggested that the Olympics be moved out of Los Angeles in 2028, suggesting Dallas or Miami as the new host city.
“The Los Angeles Olympics should be canceled,” Kirk wrote in X. “If you can’t fill a fire hydrant, you are not qualified to host the Olympics. Move them to Dallas or Miami, so the world’s athletes can compete.” . in a place capable of building and running something safely.
Before the fires, Bach expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to lead the organization of the 2028 Olympics in early December.
“We are very confident in the steps and efforts that are being taken,” Bach said at a news conference after a meeting of the International Olympic Committee’s executive board in Lausanne, Switzerland. “We also saw President-elect Trump repeatedly declare his support for the Games, which we never had any doubt about because he has stated it from the beginning.”
Bach added that Olympic leaders are “very confident and relaxed” about working with Trump.
People watch smoke and flames from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on January 7, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Tiffany Rose/Getty Images)
Trump and Bach last met in June 2017 at the White House when they discussed a proposal to bring the Olympics back to Los Angeles. Trump has taken credit for securing the 2028 nomination. However, Bach did not speak flatteringly of Trump after that first meeting.
“Pray for our world,” Bach was heard saying in a phone call that same day in Washington, DC.
Now, Trump will be tasked with leading the organization of the Olympic Games in the United States after one of the worst disasters in the host city’s history. He will have to make decisions without consulting the current IOC president until a new one is elected.
