After Patriot Games' MAGA vibes, Trump can't shake Congress

GENEVA, Ohio, and JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. — Unburdened by a Congress on summer break, President Donald Trump on Tuesday watched his Patriot Games finale like a stoic Roman emperor.

But he was soon reminded that congressional business looms, and acknowledged the 80th Congress built a legal wall that could spell a dead end for his third-term dreams.

There was no need Tuesday to huddle with House Republicans to help eke out a tough vote. And, with the Senate early Saturday joining the House on August recess, there was no need to fire off social media posts criticizing Republican leadership.

So it was off to SPIRE Academy, a private school that bills its approach as mixing “elite sports” with “rigorous academics,” to sit in the presidential box alongside ESPN and internet sports personality Pat McAfee as teenagers competed for scholarship money and large gold — of course — trophies at the athletic games he created as part of the country’s 250th birthday bash.

The high school-aged athletes took on an obstacle course that included upper body-challenging monkey bars, ninja rings and a heavy glass partition before concluding by scaling a large ramp with a climbing element at the top.

The obstacle course was reminiscent of “American Ninja Warrior.” The made-for-TV set and the accompanying red, white and blue lighting scheme had a distinct “American Gladiators” feel. But what set the event apart was the distinct “Make America Great Again” vibes from the sometime-rowdy invited guests.

Trump triumphantly entered the humid and sticky indoor athletics facility to pyrotechnics and music, as ABC-ESPN cameras filmed the spectacle for an upcoming Thursday night special. A rambunctious man seated a few rows in front of members of the White House traveling press pool compared the showman in chief to a pair of NBA legends who oozed confidence. “He’s got that Michael Jordan glow,” the man said loudly over the music, adding a moment later: “He’s got that Larry Bird energy.”

As the contestants squared off, Trump sat in his box almost motionless, appearing to watch the action on a large video screen set up across from him. At times, he seemed much more interested in the crowd basking in his presence. He even mentioned the adoring audience in remarks during the trophy presentation ceremony.

One woman in the crowd yelled, “Hi Donald!” Trump waved back. Another spectator belted out, “We love you, Mr. President!” Another wave.

An older man in the audience stood just before the competition kicked off and screamed with his hands cupped around his mouth for amplification: “2028!” That one got a wide Trump smile.

A few hours later, however, the only president other than Grover Cleveland to serve two nonconsecutive terms did something rare: He admitted a likely limit on his power.

As reporters who had devoured pulled pork sandwiches and cookies on Air Force One on the roughly hourlong flight back to Washington peppered him with questions at Joint Base Andrews, a CQ Roll Call reporter who was part of the traveling press corps asked if he had been serious in recent weeks when teasing a 2028 reelection bid.

“Everybody asks me that question. And you know that the law’s very strong on that. I’d love to run, but the law is very strong,” Trump replied. “I get asked by every, well, even tonight, they’re screaming at the event, ‘2028!’ No, everybody wants me to do it, but the law is very strong.”

The 45th and 47th president was referring to the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, first passed by the 80th Congress in March 1947 and later ratified by the states four years later.

“No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice, and no person who has held the office of president, or acted as president, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected president shall be elected to the office of the president more than once,” the amendment states.

Asked if his answer was a firm “no” on another run, Trump did not answer. Instead, he tried to end the tarmac press conference before persistent reporters got in a few more questions about his standoff with Iran.

Bloodline business

To be sure, recess Trump had clearly enjoyed his time at the Patriot Games, which felt like a Trump rally minus his signature midterms sales pitch delivered in the unique speaking style he calls “the weave.”

“It was a tremendous, tremendous success. Great young athletes, the future of our country,” he said as he approached reporters after exiting the “bridge” Air Force One aircraft gifted to him by the Qatari government. “And we had a great time in Ohio, a fantastic time in Ohio.”

But as all presidents are reminded on a near-daily basis, escaping congressional matters is virtually impossible. That’s true even while riding a likely needed endorphin release from the MAGA vibes of the boisterous Geneva crowd. The event came after The Washington Post first reported he had to leave the NATO summit in Turkey last month via an airport catering crate, as well as more negative midterms cycle poll numbers.

White House correspondent Jon Decker of Gray TV and iHeartMedia asked about Sen. Darline Graham advancing on Tuesday to a runoff in a South Carolina GOP primary against Rep. Ralph Norman. She was appointed last month to the seat vacated by the sudden death of her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.

“Well, she just called me to thank me for the endorsement, and it’s great that she’s doing so well. And she’s a very good woman. And she’s got good genetics, because she’s related to Lindsey, who [was] a real professional. So we’ll see. I’m gonna call her right now. She just called me two minutes ago,” Trump said.

He then appeared to acknowledge that not backing Norman was a little awkward. After all, the four-term lawmaker in 2025 voted with Trump 100 percent of the time on legislation when the president’s stance was known, according to a CQ analysis of House voting data.

“Just so you understand, I like the other people in the race also. They’re all ‘Trump.’ I mean, they’re all ‘Trumpers,’” he said. “But, you know, I endorsed her. I think she’s great.”

On the mild summer night, Trump told reporters he would campaign for Darline Graham in the Palmetto State during the runoff race, indicating her bloodline outweighed Norman’s loyalty.

“It’s really in honor of her brother,” he explained. “And she’s really a very smart woman. You know, Lindsey loved his sister more than anything else. He would tell me about his sister, that she’s just outstanding. He actually said she is better than him. That was hard for Lindsey to say.”

_____