ESPN host Pat McAfee is facing criticism after appearing with former President Donald Trump at the inaugural Patriot Games in Ohio this week. McAfee, who has repeatedly stated he is not a political person and urged others to "stick to sports," was seen greeting Trump on the tarmac as Air Force One landed and accompanying him to the event.
The Patriot Games, a four-day athletics competition for high school students created by Trump, concluded on Tuesday with the former president's appearance at the SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio. McAfee joined Trump in the arena, with images showing them walking together and later seated side-by-side.
McAfee's involvement drew sharp reactions on social media, with many users accusing him of hypocrisy given his past statements about avoiding politics. "'I'm not a politics person.' Also Pat MAGAfee," one user posted on X, formerly Twitter. Another commented, "You are judged by the company you keep."
The event brought together 120 teen athletes, ages 14 to 17, representing each U.S. state and territories. The competition featured events such as dodgeball, kickball, and tug of war, with the male and female winners each set to receive $125,000 in scholarship money. The Patriot Games were organized through the Freedom 250 organization.
Following the event, McAfee posted on X about his enjoyment of the games, stating, "Had a BLAST celebrating high schoolers from across the country with the Heads of Disney, ABC, ESPN, and… The United States Of America." He added, "I’m proud of all parties getting behind this important initiative to keep future generations excited about remaining active."
This is not the first time McAfee has faced scrutiny for his interactions with Trump. In 2025, he interviewed the former president on his ESPN show during a Veterans Day broadcast, an appearance Trump said he did because he heard McAfee "say such nice things about me." At the time, McAfee defended the appearance, stating that Trump was the "leader of the military" and that he was "celebrating the hell out of Veteran's Day."