Trump Announces ‘Patriot Games,’ a D.C. Showdown Involving 1 Young Man and Woman from Every State and Territory

President Donald Trump announced plans for a new athletic competition to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary next year.

Trump, 79, introduced the idea of the “Patriot Games” as part of what he called “the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen” in a video shared by Freedom 250 on Thursday, Dec. 18.

“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,” he said. “We’re going to have a good time.”

Trump said the Patriot Games would take place in the fall, describing it as “an unprecedented four-day athletic event” featuring elite high school athletes—one young man and one young woman from each state and territory.

He also said the competition would exclude transgender women from women’s events, referencing his administration’s broader policy approach on the issue. Trump pointed to an executive order he signed in February titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which sought to bar transgender women from competing on women’s sports teams. “You’re not gonna see that,” he said. “You’ll see everything but that.”

More Events Previewed for the Anniversary Year

The Freedom 250 website offered limited additional details beyond Trump’s remarks in the video, saying: “From opening heats to the live final day in front of a live audience, these competitors will light the torch for a new generation of Americans.”

Trump also previewed several other events planned for the anniversary year, including a state fair on the National Mall, “the largest fireworks display in the world,” and a “National Garden of American Heroes” featuring “statues of all-time greatest Americans,” along with a “triumphal arc.”

White House UFC Plans Also Highlighted

The Patriot Games were not the only sports-related idea Trump discussed. He again referenced his plan to host a UFC event at the White House and offered more specifics on Thursday.

“It’ll be the greatest champion fighters in the world, all fighting that same night. The great Dana White is hosting, and it’s going to be something special,” he said.

Trump previously spoke about anniversary celebrations during remarks at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on July 3, where he said nationwide events would take place at “every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites.” He added that the milestone would include multiple “special events,” including the UFC fight, noting his friendly relationship with UFC owner and CEO Dana White, who supported him at the 2024 Republican National Convention.

“We’re going to build a little [octagon]. We’re not, Dana is going to do it. Dana is great, one of a kind,” Trump said at the time. “[There’s] going to be a UFC fight, championship fight, full fight, like 20,000 to 25,000 people, and we’re going to do that as part of ‘250’ also.”

Trump shared earlier this month that the event would take place on June 14, 2026, and would feature between eight and nine championship fights, according to USA Today.