President Donald Trump badly mispronouned Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s name on Thursday before rolling out a new executive order to bring back the Presidential fitness test
17:01 ET, 31 Jul 2025Updated 20:12 ET, 31 Jul 2025
Donald Trump butchered Tua Tagovailoa’s name on Thursday at the White House(Image: Getty Images)
In front of his close acolyte, Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs, US President Donald Trump grossly mispronounced Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s name.
The Hawaiian-born Tagovailoa’s name is pronounced tag-oh-vie-low-ugh. Trump, meanwhile, said something closer to “tag-oh-val-ee-ah.”
This drew a laugh from Vice President J.D. Vance, notably a fan of Ohio State football. Butker and other sports-related figures behind Trump also let out a little chuckle: they were on hand as the US President signed an executive order to bring back the Presidential fitness test.
Trump then took a subtle dig at Tagovailoa. “The quarterback who has really been fantastic when he’s not injured. He’s gotta stay healthy,” he joked, “And he’s [also] a great guy.”
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The oft-injured Tagovalioa has missed 19 games over his five seasons in the NFL after Miami took him sixth overall in the 2020 draft.
His best season came in 2023 when he passed for 4,624 yards with a 29-14 touchdown-interception ratio as Miami reached the postseason for the second consecutive season.
On Wednesday, Tagovailoa admitted he’s open to playing in the preseason. “I’d definitely love to get some preseason snaps in. No doubt,” he told reporters.
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“It’s a new season, it’s a new year. Got to get things tuned in with the guys again, all of that. I don’t think I’m better than anyone on this team or think I’m too cool to get reps in during preseason games.”
The Presidential Fitness Test was started by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956. President Barack Obama discontinued it in 2012 and replaced it with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program.
“This is an important step in our mission to make America healthy again,” Trump said on Thursday.
“It’s something that’s very important, what we’re doing, very important.
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“Dating back to the administration of President Dwight D Eisenhower, this council has championed the vigor, strength, and vitality of the American people today.
“We continue that very proud tradition.”
Trump announced the Executive Order in front of Butker, golfer Bryson DeChambeau, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, and others.