President Donald Trump has signed an executive order reviving the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools. The move comes as the United States gears up to host major international sporting events including the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
The executive order
Trump made the announcement during a high-profile event featuring sports figures like golfer Bryson DeChambeau, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. The executive order formally reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test — originally introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. According to documents obtained by CNN, the initiative aims to reward “excellence in physical education” and outlines plans for an upgraded Presidential Fitness Award.
The Presidential Fitness Test
The test brings back the fitness challenge that measured students’ performance in various physical activities such as sit-ups and pull-ups. High scorers earned national recognition through a presidential certificate or award. The test was discontinued under former President Barack Obama in 2012 and replaced with the FitnessGram, a program focused more on individual health improvements.
Trump’s response
During the signing, Trump framed the move as a return to American tradition. “From the late 1950s until 2013, graduate scholars all across our country competed against each other in the Presidential Fitness Test, and it was a big deal,” he said. “This was a wonderful tradition, and we’re bringing it back.”
The White House’s response
The administration says the order is a response to “the widespread epidemic of declining health and physical fitness” among youth. “President Trump wants every young American to have the opportunity to emphasize healthy, active lifestyles — creating a culture of strength and excellence for years to come,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN.
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Author: Isabella Torregiani
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