U.S. President Donald Trump signs the executive order reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test during a press event at the White House. ( Image Source: X, Wear)
President Donald Trump has brought back a familiar part of American school life, the Presidential Fitness Test, a physical activity challenge once dreaded by some students and proudly tackled by others.
“This is a great tradition, and we’re bringing it back,” Trump said during the official announcement on Thursday.
The test, first introduced in 1966, had students running a mile and doing sit-ups, push-ups, and stretching exercises. It was phased out during the Obama administration, which replaced it with a gentler approach focused on personal health rather than performance. But now, under a new executive order, the old version is making a comeback, and it’s sparking a national conversation.
The test will once again be used to check children's physical fitness in schools across the U.S. It will now fall under the supervision of Trump’s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump also revived the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, filling it with familiar names from the sports world, including golfer Bryson DeChambeau, NFL player Lawrence Taylor, and WWE’s Triple H.
Alongside the test, the council is expected to create new criteria for awarding the Presidential Fitness Award, a badge of honour once worn proudly by kids who aced the test.
Named figures and well-known athletes were present at the event. Some view their inclusion as part of Trump's effort to reintroduce "traditional values" and "sports discipline" into the public eye, while others, like Taylor and Butker, have been the target of public criticism for previous remarks or legal troubles.
“I don’t really know what we’re supposed to be doing, but I’m here to serve,” said Taylor, speaking briefly at the event.
Laura Richardson, a professor at the University of Michigan who studies obesity and fitness in children, welcomed the focus on physical activity but warned that a test alone won’t solve health issues.
“It’s not about giving a score and walking away,” she said. “The goal should be helping students grow from wherever they’re starting.”
This announcement is part of a bigger pattern. Trump, a longtime golf lover and sports enthusiast, has made sports a visible part of his presidency. From attending the Super Bowl and UFC matches to signing executive orders on college athletics, he’s using sports as both a policy focus and a cultural touchpoint.
The timing also connects with major international sports events coming up in the U.S., including the 2025 Ryder Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and 2028 Summer Olympics.
The new rollout raises big questions- Is this about promoting health, discipline, and national pride? Or is it another nostalgic move that may overlook today’s more inclusive and supportive approaches to children’s well-being?
Only time will tell how it lands in classrooms across the country. For now, one thing is clear, school gyms might start echoing again with the sound of sneakers running laps and kids counting push-ups.
