Olympics Power Play: Trump’s Influence Drives IOC Leadership Race

The International Olympic Committee is about to select its next leader, but it’s U.S. politics as opposed to the organization’s own that are driving much of the process. 

The U.S. is assuming an even more dominant position in the Olympic movement with Los Angeles set to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, Salt Lake City to stage the 2034 Winter Olympics, and the Philadelphia-based Comcast this week extending its rights deal that funds much of the competition. 

Because of that, IOC president candidate Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. says forging ties with Donald Trump is critical—even as the U.S. president is sparking global angst, including in many sectors of sports, through a heightened trade war with competing tariffs. 

“It has to be a priority,” Samaranch told the Associated Press. “The United States is today one of the most, if not the most, important partner.”

Trump’s current term will include the upcoming Games in Los Angeles. 

Different Generations, Different Sentiments

Samaranch, the son of the late former IOC president of the same name, is one of seven candidates to succeed the resigning incumbent Thomas Bach, and a selection is due to be made next week at scheduled committee meetings in Greece. Samaranch’s openly pro-U.S. stance, however, is a notable departure from his father. 

More than a generation ago, the elder Samaranch frequently clashed with U.S. politicians, particularly late Arizona Sen. John McCain, following the bribery scandal surrounding the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. The U.S. Senate ultimately called Samaranch to Capitol Hill to testify about the issue, and what was viewed as harsh treatment there was later cited by the then–U.S. Olympic Committee as a factor derailing a Baltimore-Washington joint bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The younger Samaranch, however, sees an opportunity to align with Trump around the unifying power of the Olympics. 

“We are a beam of hope for humanity. That is how I feel,” he said. “We were very much alone before President Donald Trump took office. Our message is more powerful than ever.”