Washington DC - President Donald Trump and his administration are putting on a youth athletics competition that some critics argue appears to be more focused on pushing his MAGA brand.

According to CNN, the administration recently kicked off the launch of its Patriot Games – a contest in which one boy and one girl from every state, territory, and some tribal nations compete for $125,000 in college scholarship money.

While Trump originally touted the games as an event featuring "the greatest high school athletes" the US has to offer, the outlet argues that it appears the Patriot Games are "shaping up to be more of a highly produced display of youth patriotism than athletic excellence."

Applicants were asked to submit videos of themselves showing off their athleticism and responding to several questions and prompts, including one asking them to list places outside their home state where they had a "meaningful personal, family, cultural, military, or community connection."

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While some applicants focused on their athleticism, many others touted their Christian faith and thanked Trump personally for the opportunity. One teen wore a "Freedom" shirt popularized by late political commentator Charlie Kirk, telling the camera he wants to compete to "show everyone why Oklahoma is the real red state."

Though the application does not ask for the contestant's race, the majority of those chosen have been white, with many coming from private Christian schools and military families.

The application does require applicants to list their biological sex, as Trump had previously vowed there would be "no men playing in women's sports" at the games amid his attacks on the transgender community.

The Trump administration has said the games are focused on promoting patriotism in young Americans – a demographic that has largely not been a fan of the president or the country under his leadership.

It also comes as Trump has made his love of sports a focal point of his second term. He and members of his administration have attended major athletic events and have even held their own competitions, including a UFC fight on the White House's South Lawn on July 4.

The games are being held at the SPIRE Academy boarding school in Geneva, Ohio, and are streaming on ESPN. ABC will air in a primetime special on August 13.