U.S. President Donald Trump, with a piece of confetti in his hair, attends the 2026 Patriot Games final at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio, U.S., August 11, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
ESPN host Pat McAfee faced backlash after posting selfies with President Donald Trump at the "Patriot Games" scholarship competition in Ohio.
The "Patriot Games" is a competition for teenagers that awards $250,000 in scholarship money.
McAfee's photo drew criticism from both the left and right.
Writing for Daily Express U.S., sports reporter Rory Robinson condemned McAfee for wearing his baseball cap backwards during the encounter. He described it as unprofessional, "You have the privilege of meeting the president of the United States on the tarmac, and you greet him with a backward baseball hat like a child."
Journalist Aaron Rupar commented on McAfee's post, saying, “Off the charts cringe.”
Reacting to online criticism, McAfee wrote, "Promoting American High Schoolers being active and competitive and potentially winning life changing scholarship money alongside my business partners at Disney/ABC/ESPN.."
McAfee also threatened legal action against a critic who claimed, without evidence, McAfee used a racial slur.
"This is grotesque… and potentially lawsuit worthy.. we’ll have the lawyers look into that next week after," McAfee wrote.
Watch the video below.