President Trump plans to reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test, inviting prominent sports figures to the White House to celebrate the initiative.
In a significant move, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 31, 2025, to revitalize the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and to reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools. The purpose of this order is to address the widespread decline in health and physical fitness among American youth by emphasizing physical activity, good nutrition, and America’s sports traditions.
The executive order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to administer the Presidential Fitness Test. The council, chaired by LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau, will partner with professional athletes, sports organizations, and influential figures to bolster the initiative.
Notable attendees at the event where the executive order was announced included Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, and several prominent athletes such as Harrison Butker (Kansas City Chiefs), Lawrence Taylor (New York Giants), Nick Bosa (San Francisco 49ers), Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles), Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins), LPGA Tour legend Annika Sorenstam, and WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque.
The initiative aims to build on Trump's efforts to reshape cultural issues tied to sports. The Presidential Fitness Test, first introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966, will be revived in public schools with the intention of fostering a new generation of healthy, active citizens and promoting an active lifestyle at all levels—global, national, state, and local.
The goal is to create a culture of strength and excellence in physical education for years to come, as stated by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The executive order also tasks the council with developing criteria for a Presidential Fitness Award, anointing children with the highest scores with presidential recognition, as was the case from 1966 to 2012.
In addition, Cody Campbell, a former college football player and head of Texas Tech's Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) collective, and Stephen Soloway, a New Jersey physician who served on Trump's sports council during his first term, are expected to attend the event. Paul "Triple H" Levesque represents a company with a decades-long relationship with Trump, further emphasizing the administration's focus on leveraging prominent athletes and sports figures to encourage youth fitness.
The event on Thursday will feature golfers, athletes, and former sports personalities, including Bryson DeChambeau, Harrison Butker, Lawrence Taylor, and others, all working towards the common goal of promoting fitness, nutrition, and sports participation among American youth.
- The revitalized President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, chaired by LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau, will collaborate with professionals in science, such as Stephen Soloway, a New Jersey physician, to bolster the initiative.
- The Presidential Fitness Test, originally introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966, will be integrated into general-news segments, allowing citizens to stay informed about the progress of the fitness program.
- In the spirit of fostering a culture of health and wellness, the initiative encourages sports participation among youth, including soccer, golf, football, and other sports exemplified by Harrison Butker, Lawrence Taylor, and Annika Sorenstam.
