Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley has been selected to serve on President Donald Trump’s newly re-established Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, a move poised to reshape national health initiatives and influence college athletics.
The appointment comes as part of an executive order signed on July 31, 2025, by President Trump, which notably revives the long-dormant Presidential Fitness Test. This national assessment, a staple in public schools from 1956 until its discontinuation in 2013, aimed to measure student physical capabilities.
Historically, the Presidential Fitness Test evolved from a focus on athletic performance to a broader barometer of student health. This initiative aligns with past efforts, including former first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, which championed healthy living and combating childhood obesity through diet and exercise, emphasizing the ongoing national discourse around Sports Fitness.
A White House spokesperson affirmed that the revived Presidential Council intends to establish school-based programs to incentivize excellence in physical education. Beyond this, the council is mandated to play a pivotal role in College Athletics Reform, specifically addressing issues such as the “broken transfer portal” and maintaining gender integrity in women’s sports, reflecting a broader conservative agenda.
Saquon Barkley is joined on this influential Donald Trump-led council by an array of distinguished figures from the sports world, including NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, golf icon Jack Nicklaus, baseball great Mariano Rivera, former NFL quarterback Tony Romo, New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque, highlighting the diverse representation.
Barkley’s inclusion follows a widely publicized visit to Trump’s New Jersey golf course in April, after which he flew with the president on Marine One. This interaction garnered significant social media backlash, despite the athlete not overtly endorsing the former president, underscoring the political sensitivities surrounding celebrity associations.
Responding to the swift criticism, Barkley posted on X, clarifying his stance: “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 mentions with all this politics and have amazing day.” His comments emphasized respect for the office rather than political alignment, echoing sentiments heard previously regarding the Presidential Fitness Test.
This marks another interaction between Saquon Barkley and the Trump administration, following a previous White House visit by members of the Philadelphia Eagles to celebrate their Super Bowl victory, an event notable for the absence of several key players like Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith, further illustrating the complexities athletes face navigating public and political spheres.
