Donald Trump roasted for ripping off Hunger Games for new ‘Patriot Games’ event
Donald Trump’s newly announced “Patriot Games” have come in for a roasting online, with speculation that he’s ripped the idea straight out of the blockbuster dystopian trilogy The Hunger Games.
Next year, one high school-age boy and girl from each state and territory across the US will be pitted against one another in a four-day athletic event to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday.
While some initially thought the announcement was an AI joke, it is very much real.
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The game is meant to continue until all but one player is left alive.
The books were a global hit and were turned into a movie franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence as protagonist Katniss Everdeen.
One hopes Mr Trump’s version will prove far less fatal.
In a video message announcing the games and other events to commemorate the 250th birthday, Mr Trump was also keen to point out that there will be “no men playing women’s sports”.
“In the fall, we will host the first-ever Patriot Games, an unprecedented four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes, one young man and one young woman from each state and territory, but I promise there will be no men playing in women’s sports.
“You’re not going to see that. You’ll see everything but that.”
As you’d expect, it didn’t take long for people to start mocking the event online, with some hilarious takes.
One took to X, posting “No way in hell have i just seen trump talking about “the first ever patriot games” where one man and one woman from every state will participate??? i know suzanne collins is about to crash the f**k out.”
Another wrote: “I saw that “Patriot Games” news and thought it was a joke. It is not. Next week Trump will announce The Long Walk.”
Other events planned for 2026 include a Great American State Fair, and an Ultimate Fighting Championship to take place at the White House on June 24.
