Donald Trump revives Presidential Fitness Test, takes aim at Barack Obama

President Donald Trump brought back a fitness program that was phased out by the Obama administration on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters in the White House, Trump said that he was bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test for grade schoolers. He was flanked by a group of kids and government officials, including Pete Hegseth and Robert F. Kennedy, as he made the announcement. President Trump also took a swipe at former President Barack Obama.

"We had the Obama administration, which phased out this wonderful tradition of physical fitness. Thank you, Barack, very much—great job. And we're bringing it back," he said. "My administration is working very hard to defend America's cherished athletic traditions and pass our values of excellence and competitiveness to the next generation." The President also interacted with the kids around him, asking each one what sport they played or aspired to play in the future.

Reacting to a boy's ambition to be a powerlifter someday, Trump jokingly questioned if he could take on the President in a test of strength. "And you'll never compete against women in powerlifting," he said as he told a story about a male powerlifter who switched over to the women's category in the sport and broke a record. After the session in the White House, President Trump and the kids made their way to the lawns, where he played a round of golf.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke favorably about the President, restoring the Presidential Fitness Test, claiming that the U.S. needed "strong and healthy" individuals to serve in the military. "And I think this Presidential Fitness Test, Mr. President, is a great, perfect thing to restore—something that sets high standards for young people and gives them something to achieve," he said. Health Secretary RFK Jr. also shared a similar view. The test was phased out by the Obama administration in favour of the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, which focused on personal health and progress rather than competition.

"I'm so grateful to President Trump for his leadership and his vision of re-instituting physical fitness tests and challenging Americans to compete with each other...and to help each other get in shape so that we can prepare for a great future," he said. Apart from the kids and the government officials, President Trump was also flanked by professional golfers in the Oval Office.

One of them was Bryson DeChambeau, who said that the Presidential Fitness Test would inspire young athletes to be "better versions of themselves." He then addressed the kids in the room and said that the most important thing for them was to improve by "one percent" daily. "That's the most important thing I can give you guys. Try to be a better version of yourself every day, because one day you could be up here as well," he said.

Golfing icon Gary Player, who was also present, warned kids against what he called a "silent war." "There is a silent war taking place against America today, and what we've got to do is make these kids realize that freedom, exercise, and education start with reading some books," he said.