The Patriot Games, a new competition launched by Donald Trump as part of celebrations marking the United States’ 250th anniversary, drew criticism this week over claims that the field of participants was “overwhelmingly white.”
The first edition of the Patriot Games, a four-day high school athletics event created by Trump, wrapped up Tuesday before ABC broadcast a one-hour highlights special on Thursday night.
The competition featured 120 teenage athletes between the ages of 14 and 17, with one boy and one girl representing each U.S. state, along with competitors from territories and tribal nations, as $250,000 in scholarship money was put up for grabs.
But the event, held in Geneva, Ohio, and attended by Trump, quickly became the subject of scrutiny from critics across the country, with CNN’s Audie Cornish among the most prominent voices questioning it.
Cornish criticized the Patriot Games on air, saying the roster appeared “overwhelmingly white” as she raised questions about the demographics of the student athletes selected to take part.
“A CNN analysis actually found that a specific demographic of kids got a shot to compete,” she said during her Wednesday morning program.
Donald Trump’s first Patriot Games ended this week, with ABC later airing a recap of the competition
CNN anchor Audie Cornish was among those criticizing the event, describing it as “overwhelmingly white”
The four-day high school athletics competition was created by President Trump
‘Of the ones who were featured in the Freedom 250 Instagram page, many attend private Christian schools. They also appear to be overwhelmingly White, and the application for the games didn’t specify race.’
She added: ‘I don’t want to make fun of these kids. The contestants range in age from 14 to 17, but here are the things people are raising questions about.
‘Not selected through any qualifying events. They recorded video essays, just sort of describing why they should be included. Some students were chosen to represent states where they don’t even live.’
Cornish’s scathing view was shared by many on social media with some branding the event the ‘white Olympics,’ while others questioned the premise of the event.
‘I’m busy switching back and forth between the [Field of Dreams] game and the white Olympics, known as the Patriot Games,’ one social media user wrote during Thursday night’s broadcast.
‘I’m not buying that the 2026 Patriot Games has the best high school athletes in the country. Something is missing. I’m just not sure what it is,’ another claimed, appearing to hint at the demographic of the athletes.
‘Patriot games is white as f***. Really good representation of the demographics of the USA in year 250,’ posted another.
‘Why would I want to watch a bunch of white kids compete in the hunger games?’ another particularly harsh critic questioned.
The president attended the final day of the competition for the semi-final and final on Tuesday
The Commander-in-Chief awarded the trophy and scholarship money to the winners
Meanwhile, others were left unimpressed by the activities included in the event with some branding them ‘made-up’ and ‘dystopian.’
‘These Patriot Games are idiotic,’ one social media user declared.
Meanwhile, another likened the competition to the Hunger Games, writing: ‘something very dystopian about me currently reading a hunger games book and the patriot games being broadcast on tv at the same exact time.’
‘Patriot games 5 mins in. Mediocre barely varsity level athletes doing made up events,’ a third shared. ‘An allegory.’
They added: ‘Teen Ninja Warrior is called Patriot Games now I guess.’
Organized through the Trump-backed Freedom 250 organization, the Patriot Games were held from August 9 to August 11 with the president attending Tuesday’s final alongside former NFL star and ESPN star Pat McAfee.
Only one male and one female were able to win the competition, coming away with $125,000 in scholarship money each.
Events in the competition included dodgeball, kickball, tug of war and victory hoops as well as the presidential fitness test.
The semi-final and final heats were determined by a timed obstacle course race reminiscent of American Gladiators, featuring monkey bars and a climbing wall.
