Key points
- New sports council includes athletes and controversial figures
- Test aims to revive focus on students’ physical health
- Robert F Kennedy Jr to oversee test administration
ISLAMABAD: President Donald Trump on Thursday reinstated the Presidential Fitness Test for American children—a longstanding tradition in schools that assessed physical health through activities like 1-mile runs, sit-ups, push-ups, and flexibility exercises.
NOW – Trump signs executive order bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools nationwide. The test previously included a one-mile run, pull-ups or push-ups, sit-ups, shuttle runs and more. pic.twitter.com/geBPXERWej
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) July 31, 2025
“This is a wonderful tradition, and we’re bringing it back,” Trump said of the programme, which started in 1966 but was phased out under the Obama administration.
Trump also signed an executive order reviving the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. The newly appointed council includes current and former athletes such as pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, Swedish golfer Annika Sörenstam, and WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Also present was former NFL linebacker Lawrence Taylor, a registered sex offender, according to AP News.
Lifelong sports enthusiast
The president, a lifelong sports enthusiast and regular golfer, said the council will address wider issues in college athletics, including the transfer portal and whether college athletes should be considered employees.
President Donald J. Trump brought together 30 top athletes to revive the Presidential Fitness Test for America’s youth. 🇺🇸
Let’s Make America Fit Again! 💪 pic.twitter.com/oCkNAt08BG
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 1, 2025
The council—comprising up to 30 members—will also set criteria for a new Presidential Fitness Award. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr will oversee the test’s administration.
The original test evolved in 2012 into the Youth Fitness Programme, which aimed to promote long-term health over athletic performance. Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign supported this shift, focusing on tackling childhood obesity through improved diet and physical activity.
Trump signs executive order re-establishing Presidential Fitness Test: ‘MAKE AMERICA FIT AGAIN!’ https://t.co/361tgzX9HH pic.twitter.com/S9U39mkRIj
— New York Post (@nypost) July 31, 2025
The current Youth Fitness Test, as outlined by the Department of Health and Human Services, encourages students to pursue personal fitness goals without comparing scores among peers.
Hosting sporting events
Trump’s renewed focus on fitness comes as the US prepares to host major global sporting events, including the 2025 Ryder Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Earlier this month, he signed a separate executive order directing federal agencies to clarify the employment status of college athletes.
Who remembers doing the Presidential Fitness Test when you were younger? Well, Trump is planning to bring it back for public school students after a 13-year hiatus.
While there have been different versions of the Presidential Fitness Test, the one most are familiar with includes… pic.twitter.com/xWCtDNFndw
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) July 31, 2025
Controversy surrounded some council members. Butker has drawn criticism for remarks on women, abortion, and LGBTQ+ issues. Sörenstam faced backlash for accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump on 7 January 2021, one day after the capitol riots.
Experts welcomed the focus on physical health but stressed that testing alone is not enough. “It’s not just, you get a score and you’re doomed,” said Laura Richardson, a kinesiology professor at the University of Michigan. “We need programmes that help all students improve.”
