Saquon Barkley says he's not a member of President Trump's Council on Sports Nutrition
In a move that will revive a standard from the Reagan, Clinton, and Bush era, Harrison Butker, Nick Bosa, Tony Romo, and Lawrence Taylor will join President Trump's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.' One athlete and sports star who won't be participating is Eagles' All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley.
Following Monday's practice, Barkley disputed the initial press release, stating that he will not be a member of the presidential council.
According to the Washington Post, President Trump on Thursday announced that the presidential fitness test, a hallmark of American physical education programs, will be making a comeback in public schools.
The assessment was retired and replaced by a fitness program under the Obama administration.
The presidential fitness test was initiated in the 1950s by a council established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower that was directed to improve the physical fitness of American youths, in response to fears they were falling behind their European counterparts when it came to athleticism.
The project is an alternative way to get anti-obesity drugs to Medicare and Medicaid patients, after the administration said in April that neither program would cover GLP-1s for weight loss. In doing so, it scrapped a 2024 Biden administration proposal for the programs to start covering GLP-1s for patients with obesity.
Several high-profile athletes — all of whom have existing ties to Trump — attended the ceremony and will serve on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. The attendees included professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who will chair the council; controversial National Football League kicker Harrison Butker; World Wrestling Entertainment mainstay Paul 'Triple H' Levesque; golfer Annika Sorenstam; and football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.
The Eagles running back wasn't in attendance and said he was shocked to hear his name mentioned.
The list also includes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, whom Trump repeatedly scrutinized during his first presidential term.
Barkley was criticized during the off-season for spending time with President Trump on a golf outing prior to the Eagles' ring celebration.
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