SPORTS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump suggested [Thursday 4-26-18] evening that the U.S. consider removing support for certain nations if they lobbied against a joint bid by the U.S., Canada and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup…Recent news reports have said the joint North American bid is in peril because of Trump’s rhetoric and a reluctance to grant the U.S. something at a time when the president has supported a travel ban against mostly Muslim countries and reportedly called unspecified African states ‘shithole countries.’ (Trump has denied using that specific language, but his account has been disputed by lawmakers who were present at the meeting where the alleged utterance occurred.) ESPN reported in February that the contingent bid for the World Cup could be upset by a competing proposal from Morocco. The International Federation of Association Football, commonly known as FIFA, will meet in May to vote and determine the next host.”
–Brent D. Griffiths, “Trump hints at punishing countries if they don’t back World Cup bid,” Politico, April 26, 2018