Trump Revives Presidential Fitness Test, Brings Competition Back to Kids
Trump Revives Presidential Fitness Test, Brings Competition Back to Kids
Not everyone is a winner — and President Trump wants American kids to know that’s okay. On Tuesday, the president signed a memorandum restoring the National Physical Fitness Award and the Presidential Fitness Award, reviving a beloved tradition that was phased out by President Obama in 2013.
A Nearly 70-Year Tradition Returns
President Eisenhower initiated the Presidential Physical Fitness Test in 1956, inspired by research showing American children lagged far behind their European counterparts in physical fitness. The program endured in various forms for decades, awarding students who met rigorous benchmarks in running, pull-ups, sit-ups, and flexibility.
Obama replaced the program with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program in 2013 — removing the competitive element and the coveted awards that generations of Americans remember earning in gym class.
Star-Studded Announcement
Trump brought professional athletes including golfer Bryson DeChambeau, NHL player T.J. Oshie, MLB pitcher Noah Syndergaard, and legendary golfer Gary Player to the Oval Office for the announcement.
DeChambeau’s remarks captured the spirit of the initiative: “We want to make sure our kids have the best opportunity to succeed in life. Their physical fitness is a huge priority in helping them become better human beings.”
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. referenced his uncle President Kennedy’s famous 1960 article “The Soft American,” calling the fitness program “an enduring rite of passage” and urging Americans to “help each other get in shape.”
Why It Matters
In an era of skyrocketing childhood obesity and screen addiction, bringing back a culture of physical competition for kids sends an important message: effort matters, achievement is worth recognizing, and not every kid gets a trophy.
This is the kind of commonsense policy that resonates with Bastrop County families who believe in teaching kids discipline, hard work, and the value of personal excellence.
Sources: The Blaze, NY Post