President Donald Trump was criticised for saluting during the national anthem as he attended the final day of the inaugural Patriot Games in Northeast Ohio on Tuesday.
Criticism on social media
"Why is he saluting during the National Anthem?" wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter). "The U.S. president is a civilian leader rather than a member of the armed forces, traditional protocol dictates placing a hand over the heart rather than rendering a military salute. So, dumBf**k, is saluting himself," the comment concluded.
"Why is he saluting? He wasn't in the military," wrote another. This comes just weeks after Trump was condemned for a 'disgusting' act during Lindsey Graham's funeral.
Patriot Games details
The Patriot Games are being held at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, where one female athlete and one male athlete from each state, aged 14 to 17, are competing across a range of events, reports The Mirror US. The competition, which kicked off on Sunday, features football, basketball, soccer, and track, alongside challenges modelled on the Presidential Fitness Test and a military-style boot camp circuit.
Eight athletes remain in contention so far. "America's next generation of leaders, competitors, and champions will take center stage Aug. 9-11 at the 2026 Patriot Games, a national athletic competition celebrating the character, determination, and excellence that define the American spirit," reads the Freedom 250 organisation's official site.
Prize and announcement
The two victorious athletes will each receive $125,000 in college scholarship funding. During the opening ceremony for the Great American State Fair, part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations, Trump announced the competition would be held in August and feature elite teenage athletes from throughout the country.
"If you like fireworks, then in August we're going to have what's called the Patriot Games, a first of its kind competition featuring the greatest high school athletes from all across the United States, and applications are open through July 10th. Just like those patriots of 1776, over the past 17 months, we have taken power back from the far off political class," Trump addressed a crowd assembled in the nation's capital for the opening ceremony.
"They're trying to gain it back, but it's not going to happen. We have reclaimed our sovereignty, regained our liberty, restored our prosperity, and we have saved our country in all things. We are once again putting a thing called America first."
