LA28, the committee that organized the Los Angeles Olympics, has quietly added some high-ranking Republicans with ties to President Trump to its list of directors.
The 35-member volunteer board of directors now includes prominent Republican political figures Kevin McCarthy, the former House speaker, and Reince Priebus, who served as Trump's chief of staff during his first term. Prior to his White House position, Priebus was the longtime chairman of the Republican National Committee.
The board also includes Diane Hendricks, a major GOP donor who has given millions to Trump's campaigns, and Patrick Dumont, who owns the Dallas Mavericks and is the son-in-law of another major Trump donor. Ken Moelis, an investment banker who worked with Trump in the 1990s and predicted the businessman would win the presidency in 2016, is also listed as a board member.
The influx of Trump supporters onto the board, first reported by Politico, is the latest sign of the president's involvement in the main event in Los Angeles.
It is unclear why the decision was made to expand the board of directors or how individuals were selected. A representative for LA28 did not immediately respond to questions from The Times on Thursday about the move.
Kevin McCarthy
(Associated Press)
Los Angeles business consultant Denita Willoughby and philanthropist Maria Hammer-Tuttle were also recently named to the board.
“We are thrilled to welcome this experienced group to the LA28 board who will help create an unforgettable Games for athletes and fans alike,” Casey Wasserman, chairman of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games Organizing Committee, wrote in a statement.
The Times could not immediately reach Wasserman for further comment.
While previous presidents have played largely ceremonial roles at the Olympics, which were held on U.S. soil, there are signs that Trump is seeking a more active role in the Games, which will be held in his final year as president.
In August, he signed an executive order naming him chairman of the White House task force for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. According to a White House statement, the president views the Games as “an excellent opportunity to demonstrate American exceptionalism.” Trump, the administration said, “seizes every opportunity to demonstrate American greatness on the world stage.”
Trump then noted that he was ready to send the military back to Los Angeles to protect the Games. In June, he sent the National Guard and U.S. Marines to the city amid increased immigration enforcement efforts that drew opposition from Mayor Karen Bass.
Wasserman attended the signing of the agreement at the White House in August and thanked Trump for his “support” of planning the Olympics, which he said was akin to holding seven Super Bowls a day for 30 days.
“You have been supportive and helpful every step of the way,” Wasserman told the president at the time. “By creating this task force, we have opened the door to elevate our planning and deliver the largest and, yes, greatest Games our country has ever seen.”
