Hunger Games, MAGA Style
A gym-class-style competition might be the oddest 250th celebration yet.
The semiquincentennial events organized by President Trump have been a celebration of his unique vision of America. The festivities included a bloody UFC fight on the White House lawn, a Great American State Fair, and a fireworks show during a dangerous lightning storm. Next weekend, a high-speed car race through Washington's museum-lined streets is scheduled.
However, the most odd celebration took place this week in Ohio, where 120 teenagers gathered for the Patriot Games. These teenagers, described as "the next generation of leaders, competitors, and champions," competed in various gym-class activities for three days. The top two contestants received $125,000 scholarships. The event was streamed on ESPN for over 26 hours, but the purpose of the gathering remained unclear to the reporter.
The contestants were predominantly white, and many expressed their Christian faith or admiration for President Trump. The President arrived at the event, where he was accompanied by ESPN commentator Pat McAfee, and the crowd enthusiastically welcomed him. The gathering resembled a reality-TV show, with contestants struggling through various challenges, expressing gratitude to God during the events, and chanting "USA! USA! USA!"
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
