ESPN star Pat McAfee is a master of self-promotion, and he was front and center earlier this week with U.S. President Donald Trump at the 2026 Patriot Games.
McAfee sat next to Trump at the Patriot Games, which were livestreamed on the ESPN app, while high schoolers competed to win $250,000 for college scholarships.
McAfee’s presence alongside the polarizing president predictably resulted in criticism online, with one X user even saying this was evidence that McAfee uses the N-word behind the backs of his ESPN colleagues.
McAfee did not let N-word allegation go unnoticed, choosing to reply to the commenter on his X account, which has 3.3 million followers.
“This is grotesque… and potentially lawsuit worthy..,” McAfee wrote, “we’ll have the lawyers look into that next week after The Diary Of A Polarizing Figure drops FRIDAY.”
McAfee is known to troll on occasion, so we will see if this was one of those instances. Either way, the sports personality did not miss the opportunity to promote his new foray into the music industry.
McAfee previously announced his album in a tweet on July 22.
“For as long as I can remember my mere existence has made people hate my guts.. literally since elementary school,” McAfee wrote. “Teachers, administrators, other parents, you name it.. I didn’t understand it as a child but throughout my life I’ve come to realize that this is just how it’s gonna be.”
“I’ve been writing songs about it all for 20yrs. It’s time to let them aht..,” McAfee added. “There’s A LOT of headlines & narratives about me.. if I was to die, I’d like my kids to know exactly who and what their dad is.
“The Diary Of A Polarizing Figure. With incredible assistance from @ernest and many other INSANELY talented musicians in Nashville, my words have come to life. I’m very proud of what we’ve put together.”
As for the Patriot Games, which took place at Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio, the competition was developed by the Trump administration and “Freedom 250” organization. The games are part of multiple events intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The competition was said to include 120 students from America’s states, territories and tribal nations, aged 14-17, as they competed in tasks like a presidential fitness test, a military-inspired boot camp circuit, an obstacle course, and team competitions such as kickball, dodgeball, tug of war, and “Victory Hoops.”
While the three-day event was live streamed on the ESPN app, a one-hour special of the competition is scheduled to air on ABC Thursday, Aug. 13, at 9 p.m. ET.
A young man named Rockwell Myers and a young woman named Kennadi Fuhrman were named the winners of the Patriot Games, and each took home $125,000 in scholarship funds, per a ESPN Facebook post.
“Had a BLAST celebrating high schoolers from across the country with the Heads of Disney, ABC, ESPN, and… The United States Of America,” McAfee wrote in a tweet after the Patriot Games that included a selfie of himself with Trump.
“I’m proud of all parties getting behind this important initiative to keep future generations excited about remaining active. Cheers to the incredible contestants and to next year’s Patriot Games.”
