Trump Revives Presidential Fitness Test for Schoolchildren/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump will reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test for American schoolchildren, reviving a Cold War-era program focused on physical strength and performance. The move aims to encourage “healthy, active lifestyles,” according to the White House. A ceremony featuring controversial sports figures will mark the announcement.
Trump’s Fitness Initiative: Quick Looks
- Presidential Fitness Test reinstated after being dropped in 2012
- Original test included pullups, situps, pushups, and running drills
- White House cites youth health and strength as national priorities
- Will be administered under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Trump also revives the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition
- Fitness award program to recognize exceptional student performance
- The Obama-era test was replaced with individual health benchmarks
- Trump’s announcement includes athletes with controversial public profiles
- Expected guests include Bryson DeChambeau, Harrison Butker, and Triple H
- Critics raise concerns over politicization of fitness and inclusion of sex offender Lawrence Taylor
Deep Look: Trump Brings Back Presidential Fitness Test With Cultural Twist
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump on Thursday is launching a return to tradition by reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test, a program aimed at assessing the physical capabilities of American schoolchildren. In a move described by the administration as essential to the nation’s future health and identity, the program will be restored alongside the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
Originally created in 1966, the fitness test once served as a nationwide measure of youth athleticism, requiring students to complete challenges like sit-ups, pushups, running, and sit-and-reach flexibility drills. The program was phased out in 2012 under the Obama administration, which pivoted to focus on personal health goals over comparative performance through the Youth Fitness Program.
Now, Trump’s White House says the original vision is being restored to foster “a culture of strength and excellence” among young Americans.
“The President wants to ensure America’s future generations are strong, healthy, and successful,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “This will give every child the opportunity to embrace a healthy lifestyle built on discipline and national pride.”
The announcement will take place during a White House ceremony, where Trump is expected to sign an executive order reestablishing both the test and the council. The program will fall under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who will oversee its implementation in schools nationwide.
A Culture War Turn?
While framed as a wellness initiative, Thursday’s rollout is already drawing attention for its highly politicized guest list, blending celebrity sports figures with contentious political and social commentary.
Scheduled guests include:
- Bryson DeChambeau, pro golfer and Trump ally
- Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs kicker known for far-right cultural remarks
- Annika Sorenstam, Swedish golf champion who accepted a Trump honor after Jan. 6
- Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE executive and son-in-law of Education Secretary Linda McMahon
- Lawrence Taylor, former NFL linebacker and convicted sex offender
Critics question the optics of including Taylor, who pled guilty in 2011 to misdemeanor sexual misconduct, and the presence of Butker, who recently drew national backlash for his commencement speech criticizing gender equality and Pride month.
Butker has since launched a political action committee promoting Christian traditionalism, aligning with Trump’s broader campaign to court religious and culturally conservative voters.
Revisiting the Obama-era Shift
The fitness test had been transformed under the Obama administration into a personal health assessment, removing the competitive, performance-based framework that critics argued was demoralizing and outdated.
That version, the Youth Fitness Program, aimed to provide students with personalized benchmarks and support long-term health rather than pitting kids against national averages. The Department of Health and Human Services explained that the updated approach minimized comparison between students and fostered lifelong fitness habits.
Trump’s revival of the original test marks a symbolic return to traditional standards of athletic performance and may resonate with his base’s appetite for nostalgic American ideals — even in physical education.
Fitness or Politics?
Analysts suggest the program could be part of a broader culture war narrative, using public health as a vehicle for reinforcing values such as competition, strength, and gender norms.
Meanwhile, some educators and public health experts worry that such an approach could stigmatize children or disrupt modern efforts to build inclusive, supportive school environments.
Still, Trump’s allies frame the move as a long-overdue correction.
“We’re teaching kids to win again,” one administration official told reporters.
What’s Next?
The Presidential Fitness Award will also return, with the council tasked with setting new standards for recognition. Trump’s executive order gives Kennedy’s HHS 90 days to develop updated criteria based on strength, endurance, and performance benchmarks.
The program is expected to roll out across the country beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.