Donald Trump’s Patriot Games were framed as a way for young Americans to show off their athletic ability. Instead, they’ve devolved into MAGA madness.
The president’s Patriot Games, which are airing on the ESPN app from Aug. 9 to 13, were initially billed as a new national competition featuring one boy and one girl from each American state or territory competing against one another as a way of “celebrating the character, determination, and excellence that define the American spirit.”
But a review by CNN found that contenders were not chosen solely for their athletic ability, but also for their love of MAGA.
The event, which is taking place as part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations, features contestants ages 14 to 17 who are largely white and either homeschooled or attend private Christian schools. Additionally, many of them do not reside in the area they are representing. The male teenager representing Puerto Rico, for instance, is from Texas. Bobbi Vickers, the 16-year-old representing Massachusetts, attends school in California, CNN reported.
Vickers told CNN that she herself was surprised to be representing Massachusetts. “I get a bunch of questions like, why are you representing Massachusetts and not your home state?” Vickers told CNN.
Like many events put on by the president, the Patriot Games have a heavily politicized undertone. Most of the contenders, CNN found, thanked Trump personally for their opportunity to compete and touted their Christian faith.
It also appears to be a slightly uncoordinated initiative. In the lead-up to the games, there appeared to be widespread confusion among contestants about what, exactly, the event would entail.
The only event confirmed to the competitors in advance was a 100-meter dash, The Washington Times reported. “I’m not 100 percent sure what’s going to be happening. I’m definitely training all around, just to prepare,” Max Biondolillo, a 16-year-old contestant from Florida, told the outlet.
Several contestants told CNN they were unclear about how some events were scored, especially team events like dodgeball.
“I don’t know how that’s going to work, that’s kind of a gamble for me,” Ohio representative Liam Nies told CNN. “No two teams are equal, so it’s really if you get the better team or you don’t.”
One boy and one girl will be awarded a $250,000 scholarship at the conclusion of the games.
Trump announced his “Patriot Games” in December, which he said spotlighted the greatest high school athletes from all across America,” the president said in a video at the time.
“But I promise there will be no men playing in women’s sports,” he said in a social media video at the time. “You’re not going to see that. You’ll see everything but that.”
