Pat McAfee is facing backlash for attending the 2026 Patriot Games with President Donald Trump, with some critics pointing to his past comments about staying out of politics.
McAfee, 39, greeted Trump, 81, on the tarmac of the Cleveland airport on Tuesday, August 11, before traveling to the Games at Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio.
The Patriot Games are a three-day youth sports competition founded by the Trump administration. The male and female winners will each receive $125,000 in college scholarship money.
McAfee and Trump entered the arena side-by-side on Tuesday, with the duo later shown on camera sitting next to each other while watching the Games.
The decision for McAfee to accompany Trump was met with much criticism, especially by those who recalled his comments after the death of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025.
“I’m not a political person, but I am a proud American citizen and today was startling, saddening, and maddening all at the same time..,” McAfee wrote via X last fall.
He added, “I’ve realized that I’m a bit naive to how crazy it all has become but watching a man get hunted and slayed in broad daylight because of his opinions made me disgusted and devastated.”
Following Tuesday’s event, one McAfee critic shared via X, “Remember he is just your average ordinary guy that enjoys hanging with high schoolers from across the country and Donald Trump was in the neighborhood so he decided to drop by because Pat McAfee is not political at all.”
Another wrote, “Pat McAfee is a prime example of if someone says that they’re ‘not political,’ they 100% support Trump. F*** that mf.”
“Pat McAfee claims he and his show aren’t political…yet everything he does is Trump/right leaning……,” another person argued.
McAfee addressed the criticism with a social media post of his own on Wednesday, August 12, responding to somebody who questioned whether it was time to “cancel” the ESPN host.
“Promoting American High Schoolers being active and competitive and potentially winning life changing scholarship money alongside my business partners at Disney/ABC/ESPN,” McAfee said of his participation in the event.
In a separate post on Tuesday night, McAfee shared photos from the Patriot Games — including one with Trump — and declared he had “a blast.”
“I’m proud of all parties getting behind this important initiative to keep future generations excited about remaining active,” he wrote via X. “Cheers to the incredible contestants and to next year’s Patriot Games.”
