As violent riots continue to rage in Los Angeles, a Republican senator is stepping up to question whether California’s far-left leadership is capable of safely hosting global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup or the 2028 Summer Olympics. Given the lawlessness that has overtaken the streets of Los Angeles, many Americans are asking the same question: should these prestigious events even be held in a city where leaders seem more concerned with appeasing radicals than protecting public safety?
On June 11, 2025, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) brought national attention to the issue during a Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs subcommittee hearing. Citing the ongoing anti-ICE riots that erupted on June 6 — riots fueled by extremist opposition to President Trump’s renewed enforcement of immigration laws — Moreno openly questioned whether Los Angeles and California could realistically ensure public safety during these major international gatherings.
“Obviously, we’re all seeing the same thing on the news every night,” Moreno said. “It looks like law and order has completely gone downhill in Los Angeles and throughout California.”
Sen. Moreno directly called out Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their weak response to the escalating violence. “You have a governor who refuses to follow the law. You have a mayor who doesn’t see a problem with looting. They both blame this on deportation enforcement, which obviously has nothing to do with why someone would go in and pillage a store or commit robbery,” Moreno explained.
As police are stretched thin, stores are ransacked, and innocent citizens are left to fend for themselves, California’s leftist leadership continues to make excuses rather than take responsibility. Instead of focusing on restoring order, they pander to the radical mobs that have hijacked the city’s streets, using political grievances to justify criminal behavior.
Sen. Moreno posed the hard question many Americans have been thinking: “Given that these two big events coming up in 2026 and 2028 will feature the same political leadership in California and Los Angeles, shouldn’t we just make a decision now to say they’re incapable of handling high-profile events like this?”
Moreno emphasized that millions of American citizens, as well as visitors from around the world, deserve to know they’ll be protected if they attend these international events. “Aren’t we better off as a nation just acknowledging that reality and moving these events to someplace that actually will maintain law and order, and that will have the proper amount of protections for American citizens and the tens of millions of visitors coming to both events?” he asked.
Of course, the LA28 Olympic Organizing Committee tried to defend the city’s ability to host the Games. Reynold Hoover, head of LA28, downplayed the chaos, stating, “There’s no place in the world like LA to host the world’s largest Olympics ever,” and claiming that coordination between all levels of government has been “extraordinary.”
But Sen. Moreno was quick to respond, pointing out the stark contrast between Hoover’s optimism and the grim reality playing out on America’s TV screens. “Unlike previous big events like this, you didn’t usually have elected leaders who just refused to follow the law,” Moreno stated. “We’re talking about basic issues: people blocking freeways, breaking stones on the ground to throw at police officers, bricks being delivered, canisters being thrown. This is total and complete chaos.”
The senator’s remarks echo a growing frustration among conservatives — and increasingly, everyday Americans — who see Democrat-run cities descending into violence and lawlessness as elected officials prioritize political narratives over public safety. The question is no longer hypothetical: if California can’t control its streets today, how can anyone expect them to secure the world’s biggest sporting events tomorrow?
As the riots continue and Democrat leaders scramble to avoid accountability, Moreno’s warning serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of failed leadership. Once again, it’s Republican lawmakers who are willing to stand up for law and order — and for the safety of American citizens.
