Trump Revives Presidential Fitness Test Across US Schools

President Donald Trump has reinstated the Presidential Fitness Test in U.S. schools as part of a broader initiative to combat rising obesity and inactivity among American youth. The revived program, originally launched in the 1950s and discontinued in 2013, aims to encourage physical fitness and healthy lifestyles, with support from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, which includes notable athletes such as Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Butker, a devout Catholic known for his advocacy of traditional family values, has been a vocal supporter of the initiative and will assist in promoting the program through public appearances and media campaigns. The administration views this revival as a way to foster unity, discipline, and meritocracy among youth, countering trends of division in schools. Health officials highlight the importance of this program in addressing the crisis levels of obesity and chronic disease that undermine economic, academic, and military readiness. The fitness test includes activities like a one-mile run, pull-ups, sit-ups, and shuttle runs, emphasizing physical and mental strength as essential for developing well-rounded citizens.