Quaker2001

The problem here is less about fascism and more that this regime has no idea what they hell they're doing and changes their minds more than a toddler (which is pretty much what Trump is at this point)...

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/24/trump-2028-apparel-fuels-third-white-house-term-questions.html I wish I could say I'm surprised about this, but then I'd be lying. Would make the year 2028 interesting in the worst possible way if the GOP let's him get away with those. I'd say maybe he would run as an independent, but I can't imagine him and an actual Repbulican candidate splitting votes would work out well for anyone

I know this doesn't represent the sentiment here, but the "OMG, don't underestimate Trump or else it's your fault if it gets worse" vibe is definitely present here. Sorry if at times I'm conflating the 2, but I don't subscribe to the notion that we need to treat every doom and gloom scenario as a legitimate threat or else we're allowing it to happen. At the end of the day, we all know that Trump will want his big moment at the opening ceremony with the world watching. He is going to attempt to facilitate that, although who knows if he can get out of his own way long enough to make it happen. So I'm trying to toe the line here between existential dread and realizing we've felt that about an Olympics before and having our worst fears not come to pass. Forgive me I suppose about being cautiously optimistic that the Olympics will happen and for 17 days, we'll be able to draw attention to the athletes of the world as they take center stage despite all the ongoing problems of the world. Just like we did last summer with Paris. Just like we did the 2 previous Olympics in the middle of a once in a century pandemic. I get that the sole purpose of this thread is to vent about what horrors the Trump administration is unleashing on the world and the irreparable damage it's likely to cause. And yea, these horror stories are probably going to get more frequent and more horrible. Again, all I'm hoping for here is a little perspective. That people are still travelling to this country despite people telling them on social media "don't come here! What in the hell are you doing, you idiots, you're going to wind up in El Salvador". That travel agencies aren't going bankrupt. And that until we hear it from the athletes or the NOCs or anyone else in a position to make an official declaration, that sports in the United States might actually manage to go on with everyone involved. Thank goodness on that front for 2 major international soccer/football tournaments here this summer so we don't have to wait until next year to find out just how much the term "sportswashing" applies to the United States in the age of Trump

This is the kind of stuff I'm seeing all over Twitter. A lot of replies in here think we're headed for a large scale boycott on the level of the 1980 Olympics. And the craziest for me is where the replies read "well, Russia wouldn't do the things we're doing now" as if Putin is somehow this benign leader when we compare him to Trump. This is the definition of histrionics to me. We can acknowledge how dire the situation is in the Untied States right now and still have some perspective on the rest of the world. Especially when it involves a lorge scale sporting event that we know where these events have been before. It's a crying shame that United 2026 couldn't be a beacon of light between Russia and Qatar and eventually when they're in Saudi Arabia, but I imagine the reality will be a lot like many World Cups and Olympics we've seen before. A lot of negative headlines in the lead up (yes, I understand what's happening in the United States is not normal and the furthest thing from business as usual like we've seen before), but when the event themselves start, we'll focus on the games and the players and hope everything goes off without a major incident. I know that seems impossible to a lot of people at this point, but I'll try and remain optimistic despite everyone telling me I show go the krow route and just assume we'll all be dead in 4 years anyway, so none of it matters.

The stadiums are going to be full and people around the world are going to be tuning in. I can assure you there will be a multitude of happy moments between June 11 and July 19 of next year. Just like when the Winter Olympics started in China, we were talking about the ceremonies and the athletes as a primary focus, even though all the human rights issues with China were still on our minds. For fucks sake, please stop creating a strawman that I'm denying what's happening or trying to downplay it. My point is that tourism to the United States is declining. It's not dropping to zero. That's an indisputable fact. If the decline gets steeper, let's discuss it then. Not now as if we have to assume the worst case scenario in everything and treat it like its inevitable that it will happen and anyone who fails to acknowledge that is making it worse. This is the same backwards logic from people who think that because there are now a handful of trans athletes in the NCAA, pretty soon they're going to take over every women's event and steal every record. I saw a comment on Facebook today from someone who thinks athletes shouldn't come to the Olympics because Trump is going to send ICE to raid the Olympic village. That's the kind of histrionics on places like Twitter and yes, sometimes on a site like this unbearable at times. I oppose Trump and his cult of lemming supporters with every fiber of my being. But don't give me a line that I'm part of the problem because somehow I'm normalizing all this. We're all aware of what's going on in this country and how it's going to continue like this. You're right, once or twice is too many. Let's not be ignorant though to make once or twice out to be thousands coming into this country. I could walk out of my apartment tomorrow and get hit by a bus or pushed onto a subway track by some maniac. I'm still going to get on the subway though because that's a better life than sitting in my apartment afraid to go out. All I can do is to minimize the risks. If people choose not to come to the United States, I can't fault them in the slightest. For those who are aware of what's going on - and I have to assume that's almost anyone planning a trip here - keep coming here if you want. Because the Trump administration wins that battle if you don't and they shouldn't get that victory

I'm not talking about the long run. Trump is doing irreparable damage in that regard and there's little reason to think this incidents will stop. The hyperbole is saying that a travel agency is going to go bankrupt because people stop traveling to 1 country. It reads like the same people who claim on social media that "everyone" is going to boycott the Olympics and that only Trump's buddies will show up. There hasn't been a single nation to boycott an Olympics since 1988 (save for the diplomatic boycotts in 2022.. that could happen again here) and I don't think that's going to change. Tell me I'm in denial for believing that, but let's revisit in 3 years where G-d only knows what Trump will have said or done in that time.

People don't stop travelling just because 1 country completely lost its way. Yes, American agencies will be hurt. Agencies in other countries will be fine unless people stop travelling, although a major worldwide economic downtown could change that. I feel like we've had this discussion here before. Americans are notoriously bad at geography, but by the same token, a lot of people from outside the US might not discern between California or New York or other parts of the United States. Granted, most people travelling from abroad aren't coming here for flyover country in the middle of the US. Generally they're doing so for big cities, most of who are anti-Trump. So I complete understand politicians trying to send that message even though it's likely not going to get people from lumping all of America together. Either way, there's 2 different elements at play here. Are people not travelling to the United States because they don't think it's worth spending their time and money here anymore? Or is it an issue of safety. The former can be mitigated somewhat with the messaging. If it's the latter, then there's nothing a state like California can do to say "that's not us, we're different" especially when a city like an LA or a New York is always going to be a port of entry moreso than a city in the middle of the country not near a border or an ocean.

Trump continues to make "51st state" comments behind closed doors. I think it's more of his usual bluster than any sort of plans to take Canada by force, but rather him trying to force them into some less than agreeable business deal. That's Trump's style.. he wants to get his opponents to submit. I don't know if he thinks he can get Canada as a country to do that or if this is just being antagonistic because he can't help himself. Whether or not he'll ramp that up in terms of border security remains to be seen. I think the question will be what's the bigger deal for Canadians. Is it security or is it the "51st state" stuff? Because it was the former, not the latter that got Canadian sports fans to boo the American national anthem. And Canada has has their team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer playing 2 matches in the United States. So we'll see if that all goes smoothly

By all means. Let the MAGA crowd hear you loud and clear when they're trying to convince themselves of how great America is now thanks to Trump. There's always been a level of American exceptionalism that I know is a turn-off to a lot of people. This is on a whole new level thought. And as we've said, please forgive us for not only damaging the reputation of the United States, but endangering the rest of the planet with policies that go beyond our borders.

The 1994 World Cup still holds the overall record which still blows my mind. Although the expansion after that World Cup only took it from 52 games to 64 games. We're now up to 104. The question will be on a per match basis, so that will be interesting to look at. There's not a doubt in my mind that the stadiums will be full. Even though it'll probably be more full of Americans than international fans. Yes, I'm well aware of the hits that international tourism are taking. But I still think they'll get decent sized crowds coming from overseas come next summer, even if it's going to shrink because of Trump. @StefanMUC I'm looking up ticket prices for Fluminense FC v. Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium. That's a 12pm game on a Tuesday afternoon. Seems like there's going to be a lot of people in attendance. Have to figure more than a few of those are German fans who probably booked a trip through your hypothetical travel agency and likely haven't cancelled. @Bear Not under-estimating anything. I'm aware things could get much worse. Again, my point from earlier is that we don't need Americans telling people not to come here. Let them make that decision for themselves. If travelers are scared off by the headlines and all the horror stories - I certainly can't blame them if they are - they'll cancel. I don't think it helps the cause if they think all Americans are rejected them and don't want them here when that is certainly not the case.

Thanks for the hyperbole. I'm sure the story with the 2 Germans is getting a ton of press there, but no, travel companies aren't going bankrupt. Will they be hurting for business? Absolutely. But I have a feeling that'll change next year when hordes of German football fans are planning their World Cup trips.

Yikes. Imagine meeting JD Vance and thinking it's not worth going on living after that. I hear that a lot about propaganda, but a lot of people lose perspective when they make that case. News travelled slowly in 1936. Hitler was able to put up a facade for the world that everything about his regime was benign. And then when there was an American travel party sent to Germany to check things out, it probably took a month to get there and back before they were able to report their findings. In 2025, news makes it around the globe instantly. Trump tells everyone what he's thinking on a daily basis. And by 2028, he will be at the end of his run as POTUS (although I'm sure he'll try and find a way to go for another term). How exactly would he try to propagandize the Olympics? Yes, there is a 100% chance he'll try to hijack the Olympics. If he wants them to go well, he'll tweet as such. If he wants California to burn, then he'll focus on the negative and MAGA will follow. It'll be an interesting exercise though considering how much of MAGA rejected the 2024 Olympics. Trump's goal will need to be to get the USOPC in line and as we've seen recently, that could be a tough sell since they don't care about Trumps' EO. I don't buy into that social media hype. Millions of people are still coming to the United States and having a wonderful time. Yes, we can't ignore these horror stories of people having issues at the border, but let's not over-emphasize these situations as if suddenly everyone needs to question whether or not they should come here. I will fully encourage anyone who wants to come here for the World Cup or the Olympics to do so. That's their choice to make and Americans don't need to be discouraging them. While I agree that everyone should take the news seriously, I'm not in the business of fear-mongering for every story we're hearing. That is not "often" as if everyone is at imminent risk. That said.. if Trump ratchets things up, and he probably will at some point, then that's a different story. Remember also that there are 2 major international soccer tournaments in the US this summer that a lot of people aren't focusing on because they're looking to next summer. That will provide a good barometer for foreign fans coming to this country and being able to follow their teams. Yes, *want* is the key word there. We know that Trump will roll with whichever way the wind is blowing, but the fact Trump is already talking about how he'll be POTUS during these events means he wants them to shine a light on him. We can 100% apply logic to the notion that Trump will most definitely want to be front and center at the opening ceremony 2028. What happens after that is anyone's best guess. There's a good chance he'll want to get out of California after that and not stick around for the rest of the Olympics (which to your original point makes it hard to be Hitler in Berlin 1936). After that, he'll just rage tweet with anything that's wrong if he chooses because after that, he's had his moment. I think that's the inflection moment. From that point on, nothing will be logical. Before then though.. he will unquestionably want the world to be focused on the US for that 1 moment in time where his image is beamed to billions around the world. There is not a doubt in my mind that maniacal as Trump is, he will want to preserve that. Whether or not he can control himself and not have a toddler tantrum in the lead up is a different story.

1 interesting note a friend of mine brought up on Twitter that I hadn't thought of before. The media rights holder for the World Cup is Fox, so that belongs to the Murdoch family. We already know that Fox does not and will not cover political stories in connection with sporting events. So if there was an incident during the World Cup, they would just completely brush it aside. Contrast that with the Olympics, which belongs to Comcast and NBCU. We know they will report on less than pleasant stories if it affects the games. And Trump will be less upset if he ruins their plans as opposed to what may affect Fox with the World Cup

I've brought that up many times on Twitter, particularly to the crowd that thinks this is "Trump's Olympics" as if he runs the show and what we're going to get in 2028 is analogous to Hitler in 1936 with Berlin. Obviously at some point, the USOPC and the LA2028 organizers will need to work with Trump, I agree it's refreshing to see they are not burdened by having to following presidential orders. Again, I'm sure that will get a lot more contentious in the next 3 years, but for all the rhetoric that Trump wants to keep as many foreigners outside of the US as possible (unless they have money.. then of course they are welcome), his ego needs for the Olympics to be a smashing success. Mostly so he can proclaim to the world "The 2028 Los Angeles Games were the greatest Olympics ever because of Trump. It would have been a total failure without me." And it wouldn't be the first time he made such a statement since according to him, 2018 would have been a disaster if not for him.