President Donald Trump has again dangled the prospect of moving the World Cup out of Seattle next year while calling Mayor-elect Katie Wilson another beauty and a “very, very liberal-slash-communist mayor.”
Prompted by an Oval Office reporter, who asked Monday about Wilson’s election, Trump made what appears to be his first acknowledgment of Seattle’s incoming mayor.
With FIFA President Gianni Infantino by his side, he said of Seattle hosting the games, “If we think there's going to be the sign of any trouble, I would ask Gianni to move that to a different city. We have a lot of cities who would love to have it number one, and will do it very safely.”
Trump later added, “I don't think you're going to have this problem,” before asking Infantino if it would be possible.
Infantino deflected, speaking only in general terms about safety being a priority.
Trump made similar comments in September, also after being prompted by a reporter. He also spoke about safety in Seattle.
At the time, Mayor Bruce Harrell rejected Trump’s assertion that the event could or should be moved. He criticized what he called Trump’s “ignorance” of Seattle, which has seen violent and property crime decline this year.
“We’re working every day to make the World Cup a safe, welcoming and fun experience for both residents and visitors to our city and will continue to advance plans with local partners to ensure we make the most of this special event,” Harrell said at the time.
A spokesperson for Wilson’s transition team deferred to the committee overseeing the World Cup in Seattle.
Spokesperson Hana Tadesse said the committee is “confident” in its preparations for the big event.
“We are committed to ensuring a safe, welcoming, and memorable experience for fans, players, visitors and residents alike,” Tadesse said.
Since Seattle won its bid to be a host city for the 2026 World Cup, the event has taken on astronomical expectations, with projections of as many as 750,000 visitors.
Summer 2026 has served as a deadline for completing some of the city’s most ambitious projects, like the new downtown waterfront, and has added urgency to City Hall’s efforts to stabilize the city’s Police Department and ensure areas around the stadiums and major transit hubs are safe.
It has also acted as a catalyst for improving transportation routes in the city, with markings on bike lanes and pedestrian routes already going up. City officials have announced there will be a construction moratorium in and around downtown during the tournament.
During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers earmarked $45 million for upgrades and security measures at Lumen Field.
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