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A number of high-profile athletes headed to the White House last week after Donald Trump resurrected the Presidential Fitness Test while drumming up some hype for the council tasked with “fostering a new generation of healthy, active citizens.” Sauquon Barkley didn’t make the trek but was listed as one of its members before he went out of his way to deny any official involvement with the initiative.
In 1956, Dwight Eisenhower established the President’s Council on Youth Fitness in response to the results of a study that showed more than half of Americans between the ages of six and 16 were unable to pass the Kraus-Weber test, an evaluation designed to assess their physical fitness.
The six-part test, which tasked participants to complete elementary tasks like doing a single sit-up and touching the floor with their fingers while standing with their legs straight, would serve as the basis for the continually evolving Presidential Fitness Test that multiple generations of kids in the United States were tasked with attempting before it was phased out during Barack Obama’s administration.
However, Donald Trump decided to bring it back from the dead this year in conjunction with the relaunch of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, which was marked with a ceremony at the White House on July 31st that boasted notable names including Bryson DeChambeau, Harrison Butker, Lawrence Taylor, and Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
It appeared that Saquon Barkley had also given the initiative his seal of approval, but he denied that is actually the case after once again catching heat for seemingly aligning himself with the current president.
Saquon Barkley made it clear he’s not involved with Donald Trump’s fitness council after being listed as a member
We were treated to plenty of drama after the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX thanks to the White House invite that the world was led to believe the team had preemptively turned down before agreeing to make the trek to Washington, D.C. to celebrate the victory.
Jalen Hurts, Devonta Smith, and A.J. Brown were among the many players who declined to head to the nation’s capital at the end of April, but Saquon Barkley was front and center after playing golf with Trump and hitching a ride to the ceremony on Air Force One—a decision he was forced to defend after attracting some backlash.
lol some people are really upset cause I played golfed and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT. Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago…and look forward to finishing my round with Trump ! Now ya get out my…
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) April 28, 2025
It subsequently wasn’t a huge shock to see his name listed alongside active and retired pro athletes including Wayne Gretzky, Tua Tagovailoa, Matthew Tkachuk, and Tony Romo in a White House press release listing the members of the fitness council.
White House
Barkley’s name is still there as of this writing, but I’ve captured that screenshot for posterity based on what he had to say on Monday while noting he was surprised to see his name pop up after deciding to turn down the opportunity to participate.
Here’s what he had to say:
“A couple months ago it was brought to my team about the council. So I’m not really too familiar with it. I felt like I was going to be super busy. So, me and my family probably thought it would be in the best interest to not accept that.
I was definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned. But, you know, I’m assuming it’s something great. I appreciate it. But I was a little shocked my name was mentioned.”
Based on that answer, it does seem like he might be open to being involved in some capacity, but it sure sounds like it’s not a top priority for the running back.