The Hungry Spectacle of the Patriot Games

On December 18, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the White House’s plans for the first-ever “Patriot Games” as part of the festivities for the United States 250th birthday. Run by Freedom 250, a subsidiary of the National Park Foundation, the Patriot Games would have two high school athletes, one male and one female, from each state/territory competing in a four-day athletic event. 

Parallels to the Hunger Games

Immediately, the announcement drew criticism for its similarities to The Hunger Games, a dystopian sci-fi novel and movie series by Suzanne Collins. Collin’s tale warns of a totalitarian government annually selecting 2 children aged 12-18, one male and one female, from each district for a televised killing event until only one remains. The name “hunger” comes from how tributes selected often come from dire situations, and if they survive the games, they win food and supplies for their district. The audience of the Hunger Games: the wealthy elite of the Capitol.

Freedom 250’s Religious Resonance  

Freedom 250 will also host a “major National Prayer Event on the National Mall, which will rededicate the nation as One Nation Under God.” For context, the National Day of Prayer happens yearly on the first Thursday of May, as declared by a joint-resolution by Congress in 1952. In November, Gallup reported that the US experienced a notable decline in religiosity (percentage who believe religion is an important part of daily life). However, America is more religious than most OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. Still, the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer has long been questioned for its implications with the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause regarding religion, and the Trump Administration has been criticized for platforming Christian nationalists. 

Spectacle as a Distraction

Firstly, funding these events will not be free; however, the debates on government spending extend beyond this piece. 

Secondly, Freedom 250 is separate from America250 (the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission), calling into question the necessity for its programming. America 250 was formed by Congress in 2016 to lead planning on this major national birthday. While America250 has welcomed the creation of Freedom 250, its public statement did reassert that it was the organization created to represent all three branches of government in planning local, state, and national celebrations.  

Third, and perhaps most importantly, entertainment is a recognized tool for influencing the public and diverting attention away from more pressing issues. That’s why foreign governments, the US included, utilize entertainment/media to gain soft power. The US federal government has spent billions on advertising and public relations for this very purpose. Many of the details of Freedom 250’s Patriot Games and enhanced prayer are still not yet released, allowing the public to speculate on what will actually unfold. Some believe the Patriot Games was deliberately made to allude to the Hunger Games, garnering attention that distracts from the rising living costs, a top concern amongst Americans. 

A teen athletic event can be well intentioned to promote physical activity, but framing it in a way seemingly dystopian is not a mere coincidence, and likely part of a spectacle. So, regardless of how the Patriot Games play out, it is important to consider why we have decided to tune in. 

Read more here:

• Staff, Freedom250

• Staff, America250

• Paul Tassi, Forbes

• Benedict Vigers and Julie Ray, Gallup

• Mohamad Mirghahari and Christina Grossen, Irregular Warfare Center

• Marcus Stanley, Responsible Statecraft 

• Lauren Bowman and Romina Boccina, Foundation for Economic Education

• Welbert Bauyaban, International Business Times UK