Trump Reinstates Presidential Fitness Test in Push for National Health
The Presidential Fitness Test is back, reintroduced by President Donald Trump on Thursday via executive order, marking a return to a decades-long tradition of assessing student physical fitness through challenges like running and push-ups.
President Trump signed the order on July 31, aiming to address rising obesity rates and chronic disease in the United States. The test, initially established under President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956, requires students to participate in physical challenges, including a one-mile run and push-ups.
A Return to Traditional Fitness Standards
For decades, the Presidential Fitness Test was a staple of physical education classes across the country. It originally consisted of five events – the one-mile run, pull-ups or flexed-arm hang, sit-ups, shuttle run, and sit-and-reach – with right-angle push-ups later added. However, the program was phased out during the Obama administration in the 2012-2013 school year, shifting the focus from performance-based assessments to promoting overall health and wellness as students develop.
“This is an important step in our mission to make America healthy again,” Trump stated at the signing ceremony, where he also announced the reinstatement of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He was joined by a diverse group of athletes and sports figures, many of whom are expected to be appointed to the council.
Notable Attendees and Council Members
The signing ceremony drew a mix of prominent and controversial figures. Former wrestler Paul Levesque, known as “Triple H,” and son-in-law of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, was present, with Trump describing him as “a man who you’re not gonna mess around with” and admiring his physical strength. Also in attendance were LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau, Texas Tech’s Name, Image and Likeness collective head Cody Campbell, and 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam.
However, the event also included individuals with checkered pasts. Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who recently delivered a controversial commencement speech advocating for traditional gender roles, and Lawrence Taylor, a celebrated NFL player who is a registered sex offender, were also present. Taylor admitted to having sexual contact with someone he believed was 19, but was actually 16 years old.
The newly reinstated President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports will fall under the purview of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and will include figures like Roger Goodell, Tony Romo, Tua Tagovailoa, Wayne Gretzky, and Saquon Barkley, among others.
Shifting Focus Amid Health Concerns
The Trump administration’s decision to revive the Presidential Fitness Test comes amid growing concerns about the nation’s health. The executive order cites high rates of obesity and chronic disease as justification for reinstating the program, aiming to encourage students to prioritize physical activity and healthy lifestyles.
The return of the test signals a renewed emphasis on measurable fitness standards, a departure from the more holistic approach adopted during the Obama years. Whether this shift will effectively address the nation’s health challenges remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly marks a significant change in the landscape of school physical education.
