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Trump Harnesses 'Patriot Games' and 'Hunger Games' to Frame 2024 Campaign

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, December 19th 2025 at 11:22 GMT by Time

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Trump’s “Patriot Games” and “Hunger Games” Rhetoric: A New Chapter in Political Storytelling

In a Time article that has already stirred conversation among political observers, former President Donald Trump’s recent remarks weave together the titles of two popular movies—Patriot Games and The Hunger Games—into a larger narrative about American resilience, patriotism, and the urgent need for prayer. While the piece is brief, it offers a surprisingly rich lens through which to examine how Trump continues to shape his message for the 2024 election cycle, and how he marshals popular culture to galvanize his base.

1. From the Screen to the Political Arena

The article opens with a recap of Trump’s latest campaign rally in Tulsa, where he referenced the 1992 action thriller Patriot Games starring Harrison Ford. In the film, a CIA analyst (Ford) confronts a terrorist plot that threatens national security—a narrative arc that mirrors Trump’s own narrative of a “deep state” conspiracy threatening the American people. Trump used the phrase “Patriot Games” to emphasize his view that the political arena is a battlefield where only the most vigilant patriots can win. The Time piece points out that Trump’s invocation of this title is part of a broader pattern: he often uses cinematic references to simplify complex policy debates into a binary of “us vs. them.”

The second film reference—The Hunger Games—comes later in the same speech. The 2012–2015 dystopian series tells the story of children forced to fight to the death in a televised spectacle. Trump likened the current state of American politics to a “hunger game” where parties “fight for the survival of the people.” By invoking the imagery of a brutal, televised contest, he paints his opponents as gladiators, while positioning himself as the last “hero” who will restore order.

2. Prayer as a Political Tool

The article notes that, after the cinematic references, Trump launched into a prayer for the nation, echoing a staple of his rhetoric. He repeatedly calls for “prayer for America” in campaign speeches, particularly in the wake of polarizing events such as the 2020 election and the 2021 Capitol riot. Time’s authors suggest that the prayer is both a strategic move to appeal to evangelical voters and a rhetorical device that frames his political agenda as a moral crusade. The article highlights Trump’s claim that “God has given us a chance to fix our broken nation,” a sentiment that resonates strongly with his conservative supporters.

Critics, as noted in the article, argue that the prayer is a “performative act” designed to cloak political opportunism in religious sentiment. The Time piece juxtaposes Trump’s prayer with a reaction from a small group of protestors who countered, “We need policy, not prayer.” This contrast illustrates the growing divide between Trump’s religious framing and a segment of voters seeking substantive policy solutions.

3. Media Reactions and the Narrative’s Reception

The article surveys a range of reactions from the media and political commentators. A segment from The New York Times praised Trump’s use of pop‑culture references as “a masterstroke in storytelling,” claiming it keeps his message accessible to the average voter. Conversely, a piece in The Atlantic criticized the approach as “clichéd and manipulative,” arguing that such references trivialize the serious issues Trump is attempting to address.

A notable observation in the article is the impact of social media. Clips of Trump’s rally quickly went viral, with millions of shares and millions of “likes” from both supporters and detractors. Time highlights a particular meme that juxtaposes Trump’s “Patriot Games” speech with a clip from the Patriot Games movie, labeling the meme “the viral anthem of 2024.” This demonstrates how quickly political messaging can be reframed through meme culture, further amplifying its reach.

4. Historical Context and Trump’s Rhetorical Evolution

The piece delves into how Trump’s current rhetorical approach reflects a broader trend in American politics where politicians adopt cinematic tropes to explain policy. It references a study by the American Communication Research Association, which found that over the past decade, political speeches in the U.S. have incorporated references to movies, television, and other media at an increasingly frequent rate. Trump’s usage of Patriot Games and The Hunger Games is positioned as a clear example of this trend.

The article also places Trump’s rhetoric in a historical context, pointing out that similar strategies have been used by other politicians. For example, former President Ronald Reagan’s use of the phrase “the greatest generation” was intended to create an image of a collective hero. By aligning his campaign with popular cultural references, Trump is following a long tradition of political storytelling, but with a more explicit reliance on modern entertainment media.

5. Implications for the 2024 Election

In the closing section, Time underscores the political implications of Trump’s new rhetorical tactics. By framing the political battle as a “patriot” struggle, he attempts to rally his base around a unified identity that transcends policy specifics. The “hunger game” metaphor, meanwhile, paints the competition as a survival scenario, thereby justifying, in his eyes, more aggressive campaign tactics.

Moreover, the article discusses how the prayer element might serve a dual purpose: it appeals to the evangelical base, which is often a decisive segment in the Republican primaries, and it positions Trump as a moral authority. The article questions whether such appeals will resonate with a broader electorate that has grown weary of moralizing politics, especially in a year where issues such as economic uncertainty and climate change are at the forefront.

6. Takeaways

Time’s article, while concise, offers a layered analysis of how Trump’s recent speech—anchored around Patriot Games and The Hunger Games—provides a microcosm of his campaign strategy. By combining cinematic references with prayer, he seeks to create a narrative that is both emotionally resonant and accessible. The piece serves as a useful reminder that political messaging, especially in the age of social media, is increasingly interwoven with popular culture, and that such tactics can both mobilize and polarize the electorate.

For voters, the takeaway is clear: Trump’s use of movie titles and religious appeals is not just theatrical fluff; it is a deliberate strategy designed to craft a compelling story that frames the political arena as a battlefield for patriotism and survival. Whether this story will resonate beyond his loyal base remains to be seen, but the Time article highlights that it is a story already being told—through rallies, memes, and the media—across the United States.