Trump announces Patriot Games for 2026
(Gray News) – President Trump announced Thursday plans for the United States to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday with a national competition called the Patriot Games.
“In the fall, we will host the first ever Patriot Games, an unprecedented four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes, one young man and one young woman from each state and territory,” Trump said in a video announcement.
The games will be held in Washington, D.C. and will be part of an anniversary celebration initiative called “Freedom 250.”
The games are drawing criticism, with some comparing the idea to “The Hunger Games,” a popular young adult novel and movie franchise in which children are forced to fight to the death in televised arenas.
Democrats posted a quote from the movie “The Hunger Games” on X in response to Trump’s announcement of the Patriot Games.
“And so, it was decreed that, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice,” the post on X said.
Other events for the 250th birthday celebration include a state fair on the national mall, a new arch monument, and a UFC fight event on the White House South Lawn.
Trump said the planned events are just part of a much larger celebration still taking shape.
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