As violent riots persist in Los Angeles, a Republican senator is raising concerns about whether California’s far-left leadership can safely host global events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup or the 2028 Summer Olympics. With lawlessness dominating the streets of Los Angeles, many Americans are questioning if these esteemed events should even take place in a city where leaders appear more focused on appeasing radicals than on ensuring public safety?
On June 11, 2025, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) highlighted this issue during a Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs subcommittee hearing. He referenced the ongoing anti-ICE riots that began on June 6 — riots driven by extremist opposition to President Trump’s renewed enforcement of immigration laws — and openly questioned whether Los Angeles and California could realistically guarantee public safety during these significant international events.
“Clearly, we’re all witnessing the same scenes on the news every night,” Moreno stated. “It seems that law and order have drastically deteriorated in Los Angeles and across California.”
Senator Moreno specifically criticized Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their inadequate response to the rising violence. “You have a governor who refuses to uphold the law. You have a mayor who sees no issue with looting. They both attribute this to deportation enforcement, which clearly has no connection to why someone would enter a store to loot or commit theft,” Moreno elaborated.
As police resources are stretched thin, stores are looted, and innocent citizens are left to fend for themselves, California’s leftist leadership continues to offer excuses instead of accepting accountability. Rather than concentrating on restoring order, they cater to the radical mobs that have taken over the city’s streets, using political grievances to rationalize criminal actions.
Moreno stressed that millions of American citizens, along with visitors from across the globe, have the right to know they will be safeguarded while attending these international events. “Aren’t we better off as a nation simply acknowledging that reality and relocating these events to a place that will genuinely uphold law and order, and that will provide adequate protections for American citizens and the tens of millions of visitors attending both events?” he inquired.
Naturally, the LA28 Olympic Organizing Committee attempted to defend the city’s capability to host the Games. Reynold Hoover, the head of LA28, minimized the disorder, asserting, “There’s no place in the world like LA to host the world’s largest Olympics ever,” and claimed that the collaboration among all levels of government has been “extraordinary.”
However, Sen. Moreno was quick to counter, highlighting the stark disparity between Hoover’s optimism and the grim reality unfolding on America’s television screens. “Unlike previous major events of this nature, you didn’t typically have elected leaders who simply refused to adhere to the law,” Moreno remarked. “We’re discussing fundamental issues: individuals obstructing freeways, breaking stones to throw at police officers, bricks being delivered, canisters being hurled. This is utter and complete chaos.”
The senator’s comments resonate with a growing discontent among conservatives — and increasingly, ordinary Americans — who observe Democrat-led cities spiraling into violence and lawlessness as elected officials prioritize political agendas over public safety. The question is no longer theoretical: if California cannot manage its streets today, how can anyone anticipate them securing the world’s largest sporting events tomorrow?
As the riots persist and Democrat leaders rush to evade accountability, Moreno’s caution serves as a sobering reminder of the repercussions of ineffective leadership. Once again, it is Republican lawmakers who are prepared to advocate for law and order — and for the safety of Americans.
