Saquon Barkley Surprised, Turns Down Invitation to Join Trump’s Revamped President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley revealed his surprise at being appointed to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, as he had previously declined the opportunity earlier this year due to scheduling conflicts. Barkley clarified that he does not plan to participate in the council.
Barkley is among several high-profile athletes appointed by President Donald Trump to the revamped council, which was unveiled at a White House event last week. When asked about his nomination on Monday, Barkley expressed unfamiliarity with the council and stated that his busy schedule led him to decline the offer earlier.
“I wasn’t too familiar with it,” Barkley told reporters. “My team was approached about the council a few months back, so I thought it was probably in the best interest to not accept that. So, I was definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned.”
The White House has yet to respond to Barkley’s comments. The athlete has previously been seen spending time with Trump and even playing golf at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. In response to criticism over these interactions, Barkley asserted his respect for the office of the president on social media.
Besides Barkley, other athletes appointed to the council include Bryson DeChambeau (who will serve as chair), Gary Bettman (NHL commissioner), Nick Bosa (San Francisco 49ers defensive star), Harrison Butker (Kansas City Chiefs kicker), Cody Campbell (former college football player and head of Texas Tech’s Name, Image and Likeness collective), Roger Goodell (NFL commissioner), Wayne Gretzky (hockey legend), Nelly Korda (golfer), Paul “Triple H” Levesque (WWE executive and professional wrestler), Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player (golf legends), Mariano Rivera (Hall of Fame pitcher), Tony Romo (retired quarterback and current CBS NFL commentator), Annika Sörenstam (golfer), Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins quarterback), Lawrence Taylor (former New York Giants star), and Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers player).
The council’s expansion was announced at a White House event last Thursday, where Trump signed an order to revive the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools. The event, attended by several professional athletes including DeChambeau and Butker, comes as the US prepares to host major sporting events such as the 2025 Ryder Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Trump has been actively involved in ensuring these events’ success, using his influence to shape cultural issues related to sports, including new policies on transgender athletes and pressuring the Washington Commanders football team to change its name back to “Redskins.” This council expansion appears to be an effort to build upon this momentum.
The order reinstates the Presidential Fitness Test, first introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. The test aims to establish school-based programs that recognize excellence in physical education and develop criteria for a Presidential Fitness Award. The test will be administered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., reintroducing the fitness challenge that once recognized top-scoring children with presidential recognition. Former President Barack Obama replaced this test with an assessment called the FitnessGram, focusing on individual health improvement in 2012.