President Donald Trump just added a new idea to America’s big birthday plans.
On Thursday, he unveiled the “Patriot Games,” a four-day athletic event tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. He pitched it as part of a sweeping celebration and promised a festive, forward-looking tone.
Here is the basic setup. Each state and U.S. territory will send two high school athletes. One will be a young man. One will be a young woman. They will compete across several events during fall 2026. However, the White House has not shared a full schedule, a host city, or the prizes for the winners.
Trump also used the announcement to repeat his stance on sports categories. He said the competition will keep men out of women’s events.
"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 Hunger Games, 2012) https://t.co/fCx32lUMYb pic.twitter.com/3FJw4boQLv
— Democrats (@TheDemocrats) December 18, 2025
Meanwhile, the internet moved fast. Critics quickly compared the concept to The Hunger Games, the fictional series where two youths represent each district in a televised contest. Democrats amplified that comparison by sharing a movie clip that describes the book’s premise. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also joined the chorus with a pointed social media post.
Still, this is not a dystopian novel. It is a proposed sports showcase. Even so, many families will watch the next details closely. In the end, the name may stir debate, but the fine print will shape the story.
