President Donald Trump has drawn comparisons to The Hunger Games books and movies after he announced plans for an event called The Patriot Games as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations next year.
In a video recorded from the Oval Office on Thursday (Dec. 18), Trump announced that a new organization called Freedom 250 will work with companies and states across the country to put on events for the nation’s landmark anniversary.
“We will renew the patriotism, pride, and pioneering spirit of America and lay the groundwork for the next 250 years of independence and freedom,” said POTUS. “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.”
He also used the opportunity to make a transphobic comment, adding, “But I promise there will be no men playing in women’s sports.”
The announcement of the Patriot Games, especially because of its name and competitive nature, has drawn comparisons to The Hunger Games. The Battle Royale-inspired series centers around a fight to the death, not just a show of athleticism, but even the official social media page for the Democrats joked that Trump's announcement feels eerily close to the dystopian series.
“‘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),’” reads the tweet, which includes a clip from a film in the series.
Streamer and rapper PlaqueBoyMax also responded to the news, jokingly volunteering via tweet to represent West Orange, New Jersey, in the competition. He also wrote that, of course, he would livestream the event.
Other plans Trump has announced for the anniversary include a "Spirit of America" parade on Memorial Day, a military flyover with a "major" Trump address on Independence Day, and other celebrations at the National Mall.
But the Patriot Games drew the biggest response, as seen in a selection of more tweets discussing the announcement and making comparisons to the Hunger Games below.
