Former President Donald Trump announced plans to reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test, a program originally created in 1966 to encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles among American youth.
The original fitness test challenged students to complete physical tasks such as running, situps, pullups or pushups, and a sit-and-reach flexibility test. The initiative was revamped in 2012 during the Obama administration, shifting focus from athletic achievement to general health through the Youth Fitness Program.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the initiative reflects Trump’s goal to ensure “America’s future generations are strong, healthy, and successful,” and that children across the country should have the opportunity to pursue active, health-focused lifestyles—“creating a culture of strength and excellence for years to come.”
Trump plans to sign an executive order reestablishing both the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and the Presidential Fitness Test during a Thursday afternoon ceremony at the White House. The program will be overseen by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the council will also introduce new standards for awarding the Presidential Fitness Award.
When it was updated in 2012, the Youth Fitness Program aimed to de-emphasize competition and instead support students in meeting personal fitness goals for lifelong health. The program aligned with Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, which prioritized reducing childhood obesity through improved nutrition and increased physical activity.
Trump’s renewed push for the fitness test aligns with his broader interest in sports. A high school baseball player and avid golfer, Trump regularly attends major sporting events, including the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, and UFC matches, often building public appearances around them. His announcement comes as the U.S. prepares to host major global competitions such as the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
The Department of Health and Human Services’ website, last updated in 2023, notes that the Youth Fitness Test is designed to reduce comparisons between students and instead promote long-term individual health.
Several notable athletes, some of whom have drawn controversy in recent years, are expected to attend the ceremony with Trump. These include pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, Swedish golf legend Annika Sörenstam, WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque (the son-in-law of Trump’s former Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon), and former NFL linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
Butker has attracted criticism for remarks made during a college commencement speech where he questioned women’s roles in the workforce, denounced Pride Month, and criticized President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion. In response to backlash, Butker launched a political action committee to support candidates aligned with “traditional values.”
Sörenstam also faced criticism for accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump on January 7, 2021—the day after the Capitol was stormed by rioters following Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud.
Taylor, who has campaigned publicly alongside Trump, pleaded guilty in 2011 to misdemeanor charges of sexual misconduct in New York. He was sentenced to probation and required to register as a sex offender.
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