Donald Trump’s plan for a four-day athletic event titles Patriot Games has been compared to the movie The Hunger Games by politicians and social media users.
On Thursday (December 18), the President Of The United States announced the event at the White House, to coincide with the US’ 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026.
“In the fall, we will host the first ever Patriot Games, an unprecedented four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes” he said. “One young man and one young woman from each state and territory.”
Following the announcement, people were quick to notice the similarity between this and the concept of the movie The Hunger Games, where one girl and one boy are selected from each district of a dystopian society to compete in a battle royale competition.
The official X (formerly Twitter) account of the US Democratic Party quoted the film, writing: “’And so it was decreed that, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honour, courage and sacrifice.’ (The Hunger Games, 2012)”
“And so it was decreed that, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice.” (The Hunger Games, 2012) https://t.co/fCx32lUMYb pic.twitter.com/3FJw4boQLv
— Democrats (@TheDemocrats) December 18, 2025
Elsewhere on the platform, people drew comparisons between the two. “I did not expect President Trump to make the Hunger Games real” wrote one, with another posting a mock-up of the president as the character Effie Trinket (played by Elizabeth Banks in the movies), along with a joking announcement in the style of the stories.
I did not expect President Trump to make the Hunger Games real pic.twitter.com/sNsY8Mt8lH
— David Leavitt (@DavidLeavitt) December 18, 2025
Madame Trump has announced the first annual hunger, I mean, patriot games. Each state and territory will send their most athletic female and male high schooler to compete. This will truly be a joyous occasion!
May the odds be ever in your favor. pic.twitter.com/pBVTshRxj5
— Komodas (@Komodase) December 19, 2025
The Hunger Games films, based on the books by Stephanie Meyer, were released between 2012 and 2015. A prequel, The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes, was released in 2023, with a second prequel, Sunrise On The Reaping, due for release in 2026.
It was recently revealed that the original stars of The Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, would be returning to their roles for the upcoming film.
While the movies have been successful with audiences, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino criticised the franchise, believing the original book to be a “rip off” of 2000 Japanese movie Battle Royale.
The post Donald Trump’s new Patriot Games are being compared to ‘The Hunger Games’ appeared first on NME.
