Saquon Barkley Joins Trump Council Reviving National Youth Fitness Program

President Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools, a program that was phased out during the Obama administration, aiming to promote youth fitness and healthy living. As part of this initiative, Trump revived the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, appointing prominent current and former athletes including Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who will chair the council. The council's mission includes creating school-based programs to reward excellence in physical education, supporting a Presidential Fitness Award, and addressing issues in college athletics such as transfer portal reforms and gender participation policies. While Barkley did not attend the signing ceremony, he has demonstrated a friendly relationship with Trump, having visited him at his golf course earlier in the year. The reinstated fitness test will measure children’s physical abilities through exercises like running, sit-ups, pull-ups, and stretching, reflecting a return to traditions dating back to the 1950s and 1960s. This sports and fitness push aligns with Trump's broader engagement with major upcoming sporting events hosted by the U.S., including the 2025 Ryder Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and 2028 Summer Olympics.