Trump Makes Appearance in Ohio as Patriot Games Conclude

The Patriot Games came to a conclusion on Tuesday night at Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio, where male and female high school athletes from all 50 states and some territories were competing for $125,000 scholarships.

President Donald Trump, who announced the event last year as an initiative celebrating America 250, was present for the finale.

Trump’s appearance was celebrated with cheers as he walked in with the athletes and waved to the crowd. He also saluted during the National Anthem and was present when the winners were crowned. Kennadi Furman of Kansas won in the female category, while Rockwell Myers of Utah won in the male category.

Trump spoke to ESPN’s Laura Rutledge about how “proud” he was of the athletes. When Rutledge brought up how the Patriot Games were an initiative of America 250, Trump spoke of other initiatives, including next weekend’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington race and June’s UFC fight outside the White House, as well as how “the July 4th celebration was like none other.”

“I like a lot of finales. We’ve had a lot of good finales. But this has been, you know what, this is as exciting as anything. I got here, I didn’t know what to expect, and the Patriot Games is just [fantastic]—I look at the parents, because a lot of these are parents, they’re so proud of their children,” he said to cheers to conclude the interview. “And, I really am very proud of, I’m very proud of the group of people in this room. You see the spirit and the love of the country and, our great country. And our country’s never done better.”

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, also attended the event. Trump was seated between the senator and ESPN’s Pat McAfee. The latter had been present to greet Trump as he walked off Air Force One upon his arrival.

Once he returned from the event, the president spoke to the press, including about the Patriot Games, which he called “tremendous,” praising the “great young athletes” who are “the future of our country.”

Trump noted he had “a fantastic time in Ohio” and that “the country’s doing well.”

The competition also garnered attention, with a CNN panel quite perturbed on Wednesday morning, deeming the event racist over the amount of white athletes and the representation of private Christian schools.

However, the event received positive coverage from local news, with ABC 5 highlighting how the event “had all of the feel of the championship that it was” and was a win for Northeast Ohio that did “wonders” for the area.

A highlights recap special was released on Thursday night on ABC.