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Trump certainly harbors visions of himself sieg heiling from the supreme podium, as did Adolph Hitler in Berlin, 1936. But there are crucial differences.
Hitler’s hatreds of blacks, Jews and other untermenschen were horrifying. Likewise, Trump’s Reichmarshall, JD Vance, has already issued nasty warnings against visitors coming from “shit hole countries.” Even if they are certified competitors in the upcoming Games, Vance says, they’re here on shaky ground.
Indeed, the VP adds that athletes from countries he and Trump don’t like must be “thankful" for special short-term permits. But their blatantly racist rhetoric has made it clear that fans arriving in support of teams from nations Trump/Vance don’t like will be viewed with contempt and even the violence ICE is now deploying against US citizens of color. In grossly racist terms, athletes from MAGA-scorned countries have been notified that they will not be welcome to stay beyond a few moments after their events, even if they’ve won Gold Medals.
In other words, Trump to Olympians: if you’re from a county we don’t like, MAGA may let you compete… but then you better get the hell out. Trump’s ICE is now being widely compared to Hitler’s gestapo. Local residents are not now safe in Los Angeles. Even if they come to support their nation’s teams in the Olympics, tourists of color are not either. Whatever the validity of their tourist visas, Trump’s federales are already set to beat, grab and jail anyone they choose. Legal recourse is not likely to be available, even for fully credentialed visitors here to support their teams in the Games.
Hitler’s Nazis demanded special permits for Jews competing in the 1936 Olympics. But to the world as a whole, they were far more welcoming to visitors of color at those Games than Trump’s MAGA promises to be for Los Angeles 2028. Under such circumstances, how many of the countries on Trump’s “s-hole” list will be willing to come here at all, even for the Olympics?
Trump’s current assault on international students and global visitors is already gutting America’s historically prosperous tourist industry. Reports are rampant of fully documented tourists from Germany, Ireland and elsewhere being detained for outrageous stretches of time under hellish conditions for no apparent reason. As word spreads, the idea of outlanders paying to experience our once-beloved country disappears. So does the revenue this once-proud industry once brought to us, contributing for decades to our general prosperity.
As that disappears, so does the likelihood that other nations will be willing to risk the lives of their athletes and their citizens for an uncertain trip into Donald Trump’s personal hell-hole?
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As a violent intruder in deep dementia, Trump is now loudly imposing himself on the “security” of our city. Horrible as he was, Hitler revered Berlin and did all he could to proudly present it as a showcase to the world. Trump hates Los Angeles and is already doing all he can embarrass and diminish this wonderful city in the eyes of the world. Under such circumstances, we can expect nations planning to participate in the 2028 games to begin lobbying for an alternative venue. With Trump running rampant, no foreign country can be expected to subject its athletes and fans to the kind of violent, lawless sadism MAGA is already imposing on the people of this city.
Can we, as Angelenos, in good conscience, invite our fellow humans from around the world to expose themselves to the cruel violence and greed that define Donald Trump’s personal brand? Who will be surprised, then, as a movement rises up to move the Games to another city, likely one in the western hemisphere that has already hosted them.
It will be a terrible loss for the good people of Los Angeles. But worse would be to stand mute as this satanic monster imposes his dictatorial will, in our name, aiming to harm those who would come in good faith to enjoy once-legendary Games now being turned toxic and lethal.
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Harvey Wasserman wrote SOLARTOPIA! Our Green-Powered Earth
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https://www.downwithtyranny.com/post/will-trump-drive-the-2028-olympics-out-of-los-angeles