President Donald Trump traveled to Ohio to watch high school students compete in the Patriot Games earlier this week, an event that also featured prominent football personalities, including ESPN’s Pat McAfee.
However, McAfee’s appearance at the event did not sit well with many, including American TV personality Rachel Lindsay.
Rachel Lindsay Accuses Pat McAfee of Hiding His Politics After Donald Trump’s Patriot Games
McAfee welcomed Trump on the tarmac at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport before the two attended the 2026 Patriot Games finals together in Geneva, Ohio. The competition featured more than 100 high school athletes from across the United States, taking part in a Presidential Fitness Test-inspired obstacle course and athletic circuit for scholarships.
The event also drew high-profile attendees, including Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro. Their presence quickly sparked debate, particularly because both McAfee and ESPN have consistently sought to maintain distance from political affiliations.
During Friday’s episode of the “Higher Learning Podcast,” Lindsay criticized McAfee, accusing him of failing to be transparent about his political beliefs.
“Pat McAfee, I guess he thinks we’re stupid, or he thinks he’s smarter than us,” Lindsay said. “Either he’s a blithering idiot and doesn’t see that being a part of the Patriot Games, [based on] who put it on and what it’s about; he either doesn’t see that, or he doesn’t see it because he actually believes in every single thing that the Patriot Games represent.
“When he was on his show after the Games, and he’s confronting the criticism for him walking in with Trump and being there and supporting it, he’s like, ‘I just care about athletics and our youth and encouraging them to be active. And these Games are so cool; it brought people representing their states across the country who are excited about sports.’”
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay go off Pat McAfee for being a coward and not just letting people know he’s maga and he supports Donald trump and the right wing agenda they are pushing pic.twitter.com/m33DRbjjP3
— NBA Hoops (@Thechat101) August 14, 2026
McAfee later defended his appearance at the event on his show, arguing that the Patriot Games should be evaluated based on their mission rather than on Trump’s involvement. He added that the event was designed to encourage young people to stay active, compete, and embrace a healthy lifestyle, while reiterating his commitment to promoting youth athletics.
However, longtime producer Mike Ryan labeled McAfee a “pawn” of the Trump administration during an appearance on “The Dan Le Batard Show” on Wednesday. Ryan said that the ESPN personality’s association with the president was far more deliberate than he claimed.
Lindsay shares the same notion as well.
“This whole Game was something to center and praise Trump,” Lindsay said.
“Trump’s name was everywhere; people being interviewed were talking about thank god for Trump. He’s sitting in front of all the athletes with members of his cabinet and conservative members of Congress. Everything about this was about Trump and celebrating Trump.
“This was a 90% group of white kids who were chosen, not based just on their athleticism; they had to submit a video explaining what it is to be a Patriot. This was to promote Trump, to promote a Conservative agenda, to promote Christianity, to promote Whiteness, all under the guise of ‘We just really are about athletics and encouraging our youth to really be involved in exercise.’”
While many criticized the involvement of football personalities like McAfee in a politically charged event, Trump keeps commenting on football and has already shared his early favorites to win Super Bowl 61. His list includes the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants.
Trump also specifically praised Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, who introduced him at a campaign rally earlier this year.
