A political analyst for The Atlantic panned President Donald Trump's Patriot Games but not before noting that they revealed his vision for America.
In a Thursday piece for The Atlantic, Matt Viser lamented having watched many of the 26 hours of this week's Patriot Games on ESPN. The Patriot Games convened 120 teenagers from across the country for a competition that Viser described as a "nationally televised field day" and "the Hunger Games, MAGA style."
The Patriot Games, which were hosted in Geneva, Ohio, "might have been the oddest" festivities Trump has personally directed as a celebration of America's 250th anniversary, including the UFC fight and the Great American State Fair, Viser wrote. Although Viser was unsure how most events were being scored, he noted the revealing coverage of the teens in the competition.
"More than anything, it was a reality-television-style snapshot of the America that Trump most wants to see," Viser wrote. "The contestants were overwhelmingly white, in a country where roughly half of children are not, and many spoke openly of their Christian faith or their affection for this particular president."
Trump showed up on Tuesday night to the event alongside ESPN commentator Pat McAfee, and "the crowd erupted," Viser wrote. "He's got that Michael Jordan glow," one spectator said while others yelled "We love you, Mr. President!" and "2028!," per Viser.
"I didn't know what to expect," Trump said during an ESPN interview. "I'm very proud of the group of people in this room. You see the spirit and the love of the country, our great country. And our country's never done better."
Viser pointed out that the teenagers competing were members of JROTC or the Future Farmers of America, came from military families, aspired to join the armed services themselves, and wore cross necklaces or had a cross painted on their bodies.
"I just want to say, it's the glory for God," Max Biondolillo of Florida said, per Viser. "Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity."
"The biographies suggested that the organizers might have struggled with recruitment in some deep-blue jurisdictions," Viser wrote, noting that the athletes were selected through applications that required submissions of personal essays and videos.