US President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at the transgender community, this time during the announcement of a new national event titled “The Patriot Games.” The remarks, made during a video address, sparked immediate backlash from LGBTQIA+ advocates and online users.
The planned games are part of a broader initiative to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, with the President promising a year of events and celebrations.
“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,” Trump declared in a YouTube announcement.
However, before continuing with details, the President made a pointed remark about transgender athletes:
“I promise there will be no men playing in women’s sports. You’re not gonna see that. You’ll see everything but that.”
The comment was seen as a thinly veiled jab at transgender women, who have been frequent targets of Trump’s rhetoric and policies. The President offered no additional information about the games before shifting focus to other planned events.
Trans Rights Under Fire
Trump’s comment comes as his administration pushes for sweeping changes to healthcare access for transgender youth, proposing a ban on gender-affirming care. The proposed rules could see hospitals lose federal funding if they provide puberty blockers, hormone therapies, or — in rare cases — surgical treatments for trans minors.
Since returning to office, Trump has enacted and supported numerous measures targeting the trans community, including:
- Reinstating a ban on transgender personnel in the US military
- Proposing restrictions on transgender healthcare access
- Erasing references to transgender identities from key public websites
- Enforcing bans on trans athletes in school and professional sports
Online Reaction: ‘Hunger Games Vibes’
The announcement of the “Patriot Games” triggered a flurry of online comparisons to the dystopian Hunger Games franchise, with many users mocking the concept and its undertones of national spectacle and exclusion.
Others voiced concern that the new event — pitched as a celebration of national pride — appears to use transgender exclusion as a political point of difference.
Despite public backlash, Trump has remained silent on the criticism and has not elaborated further on the structure, location, or eligibility criteria for the event.
