As violent riots persist in Los Angeles, a Republican senator is raising concerns about California’s far-left leadership and its ability to safely host global events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. With lawlessness dominating the streets of Los Angeles, many Americans are questioning whether these esteemed events should 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, which were driven by extremist opposition to President Trump’s renewed enforcement of immigration laws. Moreno candidly questioned the ability of Los Angeles and California to guarantee public safety during these significant international events.
“Clearly, we’re all witnessing the same scenes on the news every evening,” 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 does not recognize the issue of 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 law enforcement resources are stretched thin, stores are looted, and innocent citizens are left to protect themselves, California’s leftist leadership continues to offer excuses instead of accepting accountability. Rather than prioritizing the restoration of order, they cater to the radical mobs that have taken over the city’s streets, using political grievances to rationalize criminal actions.
Senator Moreno raised a critical question that many Americans have been contemplating: “Considering that the upcoming significant events in 2026 and 2028 will be overseen by the same political leadership in California and Los Angeles, shouldn’t we proactively decide that they are unfit to manage high-profile events of this nature?”
Moreno stressed that millions of American citizens, along with international visitors, have the right to assurance of their safety when attending these global events. “Wouldn’t it be more prudent for our nation to recognize this reality and relocate these events to a place that can genuinely uphold law and order, ensuring adequate protection for American citizens and the vast number of visitors expected at both events?” he inquired.
Naturally, the LA28 Olympic Organizing Committee sought to defend the city’s capability to host the Games. Reynold Hoover, the head of LA28, minimized the disorder, asserting, “There’s no other place in the world like Los Angeles to host the largest Olympics in history,” and claimed that the collaboration among various government levels has been “extraordinary.”
However, Senator Moreno was quick to counter, highlighting the stark disparity between Hoover’s optimistic outlook and the harsh reality depicted on America’s television screens. “Unlike previous major events, we now have elected officials who blatantly refuse to adhere to the law,” Moreno remarked. “We are witnessing fundamental issues: individuals obstructing freeways, breaking stones to hurl at law enforcement, bricks being delivered, and canisters being thrown. This is utter 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 disorder as elected leaders prioritize political agendas over public safety. The question is no longer theoretical: if California is unable to maintain order on its streets today, how can anyone expect them to ensure security for the world?
As the riots persist and Democratic leaders rush to evade responsibility, Moreno’s caution acts as a stark reminder of the repercussions of ineffective leadership. Once more, it is Republican lawmakers who are prepared to advocate for law and order — and for the protection of American citizens.
