Trump's Patriot Games Land ESPN, Disney Deal With $250,000 Scholarships

Q: Why did Danica Patrick’s Europe beach photos spark both praise and body-shaming, and how did she fire back at critics?

Danica Patrick’s Europe beach photos sparked a split reaction because they prominently showed her very lean, muscular frame and defined abs. Many followers praised the former racing star’s fitness and discipline, saying the images reflected the results of serious training. Others, however, body-shamed her, claiming she looked too thin and telling her to “eat more” or “put some weight on.” Patrick pushed back directly on Instagram Stories. Responding to the criticism, she posted photos of her meals and a protein bar and wrote, “Since many have told me to eat after the last post, I shall show you more meals.” She detailed what she had eaten, including eggs, sourdough, butter, jam and lunch, making clear that her physique was not the result of starving herself. She also defended her training approach, saying that building muscle requires real weightlifting and proper protein intake. In one post, she wrote, “If you don’t lift weights (like for real) and eat your damn protein (not 2 eggs), you don’t have to get muscles,” before adding, “And the more muscle you have, the more you get to eat!!!!!! The end.” The exchange underscored two things: Patrick remains highly committed to fitness at 44, and her social-media presence still draws strong public attention long after her racing career ended.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 6

Trump's Patriot Games begin this weekend with ESPN and Disney set to carry the youth competition on the ESPN app and ABC.
The event, announced in December for America's 250th birthday, will feature one boy and one girl from each state in contests including kickball, dodgeball, tug-of-war and a Presidential Fitness Test-style challenge.
A $250,000 scholarship pool will be awarded to one male and one female champion, framing the games as both a patriotic showcase and a youth competition.
The media tie-up stands out because ESPN and Disney have had strained relations with the Trump administration, making the partnership an unexpected point of alignment.