President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, aiming to bolster the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition by reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools. The move signals a renewed focus on youth physical activity and coincides with the U.S. hosting several major international sporting events.
The initiative, which Trump heralded as a return to a “wonderful tradition,” seeks to re-establish school-based programs that recognize “excellence in physical education” and award a Presidential Fitness Award. This program, originally launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966, was discontinued in 2012 under President Barack Obama, who replaced it with the FitnessGram assessment.
During the signing event at the White House, Trump was joined by a cadre of professional athletes, including golfer Bryson DeChambeau, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, and former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. These athletes, along with other sports figures, were formally inducted into the revitalized presidential council. DeChambeau is slated to chair the council.
The executive order is framed as a response to a perceived decline in national health and physical fitness. It directs the council to collaborate with athletes, sports organizations, and other influential figures to promote active lifestyles among young Americans.
“President Trump wants every young American to have the opportunity to emphasize healthy, active lifestyles — creating a culture of strength and excellence for years to come,” stated White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The reinstatement of the Presidential Fitness Test is part of a broader strategy by the administration to leverage major sporting events, such as the 2025 Ryder Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and 2028 Summer Olympics, to boost national pride and engagement. The president has also actively engaged in cultural issues tied to sports, including policies on transgender athletes and efforts to influence team names.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is tasked with administering the revived fitness test. While the Presidential Fitness Test focused on competitive achievement, the FitnessGram emphasized individual health metrics.
Notable figures joining the council include Cody Campbell, head of Texas Tech’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) collective; WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque; acclaimed Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam; and Dr. Stephen Soloway, a physician who previously served on Trump’s sports council. Butker, who previously drew criticism for remarks made at a commencement speech, also attended, having met with the president earlier in the year.
