President Donald Trump invited comparisons to The Hunger Games after announcing several plans for America's 250th anniversary, including the "Patriot Games," in which one male and one female high schooler from each state and territory compete in an "unprecedented four-day athletic event."
The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins, is the story of Katniss Everdeen, a young woman who finds herself up against a hostile government that forces teenagers to fight to the death every year to intimidate critics and keep society's poorest and most vulnerable in line.
Trump, speaking from the Resolute Desk, said:
"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."
Then he dropped a transphobic remark, throwing raw meat at his MAGA base:
"But I promise there will be no men playing in women's sports."
You can hear what Trump said in the video below.
Trump otherwise stressed there would be different events and commemoration plans to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary.
He said, in part:
"When I campaigned for president, I pledged to give America the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen for America's 250th anniversary on July 4 next year."
"Already, we've had big celebrations to commemorate the 250th birthdays of the Army, the Navy and the United States Marines, but there is much, much more to come. We're going to have a good time."
While Washington, D.C., is not a state, the city is set to host a “Great American State Fair” on the National Mall, featuring representation from all 50 states. The event will serve as a centerpiece of the July 4 festivities as Trump reprises his “Salute to America.”
The president also said construction on a proposed triumphal arch would begin “in the very near future” and reiterated plans for a statue garden honoring what he described as “American heroes.”
Oh, and keep in mind that Trump earlier announced there will be on a UFC fight on the White House grounds to celebrate America's semiquincentennial. Trump expects the fight will happen in front of 20,000 to 25,000 people, a proposal backed by former two-division champion Conor McGregor, who confirmed his interest after not having competed since 2021.
But it was the whole "Patriot Games" thing that really got people talking—and they couldn't help but think of the same thing.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faced criticism earlier this year for reviewing a pitch for a reality television show where immigrants would compete for a chance to fast-track their path to U.S. citizenship.
The news, first reported by The Daily Mail, relayed that DHS was collaborating with writer and producer Rob Worsoff on a proposed reality television show titled The American, which risks turning a serious and often traumatic process into entertainment.
The concept comes as the Trump administration continues to clamp down on asylum access and prepares to implement a sweeping deportation plan targeting millions of undocumented immigrants.
If the show moves forward, it would represent one of only two new pathways to citizenship under the current administration.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin acknowledged the existence of the pitch, telling the press, “I think it’s a good idea.” However, confusion surrounds the level of departmental support. While some reports suggested Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is backing the proposal, DHS officials called that claim “completely false,” asserting that Noem is not aware of the project.
The Daily Mail reviewed the 35-page pitch for The American and noted that Worsoff, best known for his work on A&E’s Duck Dynasty, is now aiming to blend reality television with immigration policy in a high-profile format.
The show would reportedly kick off with 12 pre-selected contestants arriving at Ellis Island aboard a vessel dubbed The Citizen Ship, greeted by a celebrity host—preferably a naturalized U.S. citizen such as Sofia Vergara or Ryan Reynolds—and gifted a personalized baseball glove as a symbolic welcome.
From there, contestants would crisscross the country by train, tackling challenges tied to American culture and geography, such as log balancing in Wisconsin or rocket building in Cape Canaveral. Officials from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may be involved in tabulating results.
As the competition progresses, eliminated participants wouldn't walk away empty-handed. Instead, they'd receive outsized consolation prizes billed as quintessentially American—like a million airline miles, a $10,000 Starbucks gift card, or free gas for life. While no brands have formally signed on, Worsoff claims the project has broad commercial appeal and strong sponsorship potential.
But for now, may the odds be ever in your favor.
