Trump Claims Olympic Glory Thanks to Casey Wasserman: “Did I Win Them Athletically?”

Although it’s not the Nobel Prize, Donald Trump was visibly thrilled when he received a collection of Olympic medals from Casey Wasserman, the chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics organizing committee, during a ceremony at the White House today.

At this gathering, Trump signed an executive order to create a special task force dedicated to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, with himself appointed as the chairman of this group.

As he presented the medals, Wasserman, the founder and CEO of his namesake company, mentioned Ronald Reagan, who oversaw the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He stated to Trump, “You will preside over our games,” handing him a complete set of the 1984 original medals.

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Following the applause, Trump humorously inquired, “Can I claim I won these athletically?”

Trump went on to share about the event on Truth Social at least five times, including a video of the medal presentation with the caption, “Thank you to Casey Wasserman, Chairman of 2028 LA Olympics…”

Last month, Trump faced criticism when he remained on the winners’ platform as the English soccer team Chelsea received their medals after winning the FIFA Club World Cup. Chelsea’s captain Reece James seemed to prompt Trump, asking, “Are you going to leave?” to which the president responded with a smile and applause.

Not only was Trump seen pocketing one of the Chelsea player’s medallions, but he also claimed that FIFA had awarded him the original Club World Cup trophy, alleging that Chelsea had received a replica.

Concerns have been voiced that Trump, who has often taken credit for securing the L.A. Games, might similarly attach himself to the event, with many encouraging him to do just that.

During a media conference at Morgan Stanley earlier this year, Mark Shapiro, an executive at Endeavor and TKO, expressed, “President Trump is going to leave office with the trophy that is the L.A. Olympics. He’ll claim ‘I did it, I brought it back, I was behind it, I provided the resources, the support.’ He’ll definitely be sitting front and center. I truly believe that this will be his Olympics as much as anything else.”

Trump has had a long-standing fascination with various types of medals, particularly the Nobel Peace Prize, which has been awarded to four other presidents.

When asked in 2018 if he deserved the Nobel, Trump modestly replied, “Everyone thinks so, but I would never say it.” However, his attitude seemed to shift when he revisited the topic earlier this year, stating, “They will never award me the Nobel Peace Prize, no matter how much I deserve it.”