On Thursday, December 18th 2025, Trump announced the ‘Patriot Games’ as a part of America’s 250th birthday celebration taking place this summer. Trump stated, “… the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen.” A list of events that are planned to take place called “Freedom 250” on social media. These activities are planned from June 25, 2026 to July 10, 2026.
The ‘Patriot Games’ are a four day athletic event, with the greatest high school athletes competing against each other. One young man and one young woman from each state and territory will be competing. “But I promise, there will be no men playing women’s sports. You’re not going to see that,” Trump stated.
On social media, many people are comparing the ‘Patriot Games’, to the New York Times bestselling series The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games, based on a novel by Suzanne Collins, is centered around children forced to fight to the death in televised arenas. Democrats are already comparing Trump to President Snow.
With other events such as UFC fights, many people believe that this celebration is a distraction to the low approval ratings Trump’s administration is facing. With Trump’s economic approval rating recently hitting a new low of 36%, there has been speculation that the announcement of the ‘Patriot Games’ is to distract the public from his weaknesses during his presidency.
Trump has announced that there is going to be a “triumphal arc” built near the entrance of Arlington National Cemetery by the time of America’s 250th birthday celebration. “It’s something that is so special, it will be like the one in Paris. But to be honest with you, it blows it away, blows it away in every way. …It’s the only city in the world that’s of great importance that does not have a triumphal arc,” Trump stated. With Trump comparing Washington D.C. to Paris, where the recent summer Olympics took place, this shows the similarities between the ‘Patriot Games’ and The Olympics.
Now, an interview from an anonymous ninth grade athlete from Pitman. When asked if he would be interested in watching the “Patriot Games’, he responded with “I don’t know, yeah sure. I think it would be interesting to watch.” He stated that, “It would be cool to participate, I would be honored,” if he were to be selected to participate in the ‘Patriot Games.”
Emma McLoughlin, a tenth grade athlete from Pitman stated, “Yes, I have heard of the Patriot Games on Tiktok, the name sounds similar to ‘The Hunger Games’.” When asked if she would be watching the ‘Patriot Games’, she replied, “Probably not, I don’t care about it If I were chosen to participate in the ‘Patriot Games’, I would feel shocked because I am definitely not one of the top athletes in our country.”
Overall, it seems that athletes here at Pitman are not extremely interested or aware of the ‘Patriot Games’ being hosted this summer. The announcement of this athletic event has caused controversial opinions and comparisons to be shared through social media.