The Ringer's Van Lathan Unloads On ESPN Star Pat McAfee

ESPN star Pat McAfee sat next to President Trump at the Patriot Games in Ohio last week, earning praise from some and backlash from others. McAfee, the highest-paid figure at ESPN, claims that sitting next to President Trump was not political. He was there to support athletics. The Patriot Games, ...

by Andrew Holleran

Aug 17, 2026

Pat McAfee on his radio show.

ESPN star Pat McAfee sat next to President Trump at the Patriot Games in Ohio last week, earning praise from some and backlash from others.

McAfee, the highest-paid figure at ESPN, claims that sitting next to President Trump was not political. He was there to support athletics. The Patriot Games, started by President Trump, give out thousands in scholarship money to youth athletes.

“I think this is an initiative that is going to continue. I think this is a big deal,” the former NFL punter said in response to his critics.

“And anything that is going to amplify or encourage the next generation to remain active and competitive, I think that is a huge thing I will be a part of.”

ESPN analyst Pat McAfee broadcasts live from the sidelines of Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA prior to the start of the Pittsburgh Panthers vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish game on November 15, 2025.

But not everyone is buying it.

Van Lathan, formerly of TMZ Sports, blasted McAfee during his The Ringer podcast with his co-host, Rachel Lindsay.

Lathan accuses McAfee of secretly wanting to be MAGA

Lathan unloaded on McAfee during his "Higher Learning" podcast.

"Pat McAfee wants to be MAGA so bad, he just won't let it happen," Lathan said, accusing the ESPN star of dancing around his true feelings instead of owning them.

"I wonder if he feels like he's letting his ancestors down," Lathan continued. "Your ancestors kicked the (expletive) out of people for a long time, so you didn't have to hide the fact that you stand next to a racist and xenophobic political product."

"Just (expletive) do it. Just do it. Everybody else, they done made it plain and clear. It cost them nothing," Lathan added. "No one (expletive) cares. You guys have outed yourselves as the bad guy. You think that any of the athletes that you would want to interview on the Pat McAfee Show are not going to come on there because you're MAGA? You're wrong."

Lathan accused McAfee of participating in propoganda.

"The most successful thing about the Patriot Games is that they got Pat McAfee… The most successful thing about it is that they got somebody like him and ESPN to stand next to this product. No one else looking at this thinks this is anything other than direct propaganda from the Trump administration," he argued.

McAfee, meanwhile, continues to defend his decision.