Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 6:51 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced plans to hold a four-day athletic competition among the nation’s top high school athletes, as part of a series of events his administration is hosting to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday in 2026.
Trump is calling the event the “Patriot Games.” The competition will feature “one young man and one young woman from each state and territory” and is scheduled to take place next fall.
“But I promise, there will be no men playing in women’s sports,” Trump said in a video about his plans to commemorate the nation’s semiquincentennial next year. “You’re not going to see that. You’ll see everything but that.”
Democrats mocked Trump on social media, comparing the athletic event to “The Hunger Games,” a dystopian book and movie series where two children from every district must fight to the death in a competition held by their government.
Some on social media defended the games, arguing that they promoted youth athleticism and compared the event to the Olympics.
Besides the Patriot Games, other events sponsored by Freedom 250 will include a “Great American State Fair” on the National Mall featuring pavilions from all 50 states, a “National Prayer Event” and a Memorial Day parade.
The celebrations are separate from those being hosted by America 250, the bipartisan organization established by Congress in 2016 to lead planning of the country’s milestone birthday.
“America250 welcomes Freedom 250 and its initiatives that will give the American people more ways they can celebrate America’s 250th birthday,” Rosie Rios, chair of the first group, said.
Karissa Waddick, who covers America’s semiquincentenial for USA TODAY, can be reached at kwaddick@usatoday.com.
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