ESPN’s Pat McAfee was in Ohio alongside President Donald Trump for the Patriot Games — and despite the name, this had nothing to do with the 1992 Harrison Ford action film.
McAfee, the former NFL punter turned sports media star, joined Trump at SPIRE Academy in Geneva for the high school sports competition. The event is set to award scholarship funds to one young woman and one young man, and McAfee was also seen greeting the president on the tarmac in Cleveland.
Footage shared on social media by a White House-run account captured Trump stepping off Air Force One and reaching the bottom of the stairs, where he shook hands with McAfee, who was wearing a backward hat.
The two posed briefly for photos before walking together toward the waiting Marine One helicopter.
A second video posted by the same account showed McAfee seated beside Trump during the Patriot Games event.
According to Front Office Sports, McAfee attended the Patriot Games as a guest of Trump.
ESPN has carried the Patriot Games on its app throughout the week and is scheduled to air a one-hour primetime special on its linear television network on Thursday.
McAfee also talked about the competition on Tuesday’s episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” saying he would be interested in helping the Patriot Games expand in the future.
“We have no idea what’s going on over there, certainly something we would be interested in though,” McAfee said. “Would certainly like to help this continue.”
The event’s website has billed it as one that “will feature a series of athletic challenges designed to test strength, endurance, agility, teamwork, and perseverance, including a Presidential Fitness Test, a military-inspired boot camp circuit, an obstacle course, and team competitions such as Kickball, Dodgeball, Tug of War, and Victory Hoops.”
McAfee later posted on X about his presence at the event, saying he was “proud” of supporting it.
“Had a BLAST celebrating high schoolers from across the country with the Heads of Disney, ABC, ESPN, and… The United States Of America I’m proud of all parties getting behind this important initiative to keep future generations excited about remaining active,” McAfee wrote while also sharing two selfies, one of which included Trump.
“Cheers to the incredible contestants and to next year’s Patriot Games.”
McAfee has had several interactions with the president, including interviewing him on his show on ESPN on Veterans Day last year and having an in-person visit with Trump during the college football national championship game.
