ATLANTA - Comments from President Donald Trump are raising questions about whether the possibility of changing host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup , even as planning is well underway.

World Cup safety debate

The backstory:

"It will be safe for the World Cup. If I think it isn’t safe, we’ll move it into a different city. Absolutely," Trump said earlier this week from the Oval Office.

The president did not mention Atlanta by name, but he has previously criticized the city as a Democrat-run hub for crime. Atlanta is among 11 U.S. cities slated to host matches.

A White House spokesperson did not clarify whether Atlanta was among the cities Trump was referring to, but insisted the 2026 tournament would be "the safest World Cup ever."

Georgia leaders respond

What they're saying:

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