Photo: Alamy
On Tuesday, the White House hosted American youth on the South Lawn, championing the reestablishment of the Presidential Physical Fitness Test, originally initiated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Young Americans on the grassy lawn outside the People’s House could be seen doing sit-ups and kicking soccer balls as part of the athletic event, aimed at promoting the reimplementation of the program in U.S. schools.
“Re-establishing the golden standard of the Presidential Fitness Test has been a huge deal for me,” said professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau during an event with President Trump in the Oval Office.
DeChambeau continued, “These kids now are going to have a healthy future. That’s really an important thing for us to not here, is, you know, we want to make sure our kids have the best opportunity to succeed in life, not only from their mind, but their health and their well-being – their physical fitness is a huge priority to helping them become better human beings in general for our nation.”
The president signed a proclamation heralding the event, which builds on a 2025 executive order he signed that reestablished the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, as well as the executive-inspired physical fitness test for American schools.
“Working alongside world-class professional athletes, major league organizations, teams, schools and communities across our country, we are ushering in a new Golden Age of physical fitness — expanding access to wellness for every American, promoting the many benefits of exercise and good nutrition, supporting youth sports, and celebrating a culture of strength, vitality, and excellence,” the president wrote in his Tuesday proclamation.
At one point, a viral moment on social media showed President Trump doing his famous “Trump dance” with a group of young men participating in the fitness event at the White House.
“We need young, strong, healthy Americans, whether you serve in the military or any other aspect of your life,” said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who attended the event. “And I think this Presidential Fitness Test, Mr. President, is a great, a perfect thing to restore that sets those standards high for young people…the idea that competition is bad is the beginning of decline of a nation. Competition is critical to who we are in ensuring America stays on top.”