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WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump connected Tuesday revived the Presidential Physical Fitness Award arsenic portion of his propulsion to instrumentality an yearly carnal fittingness trial to America's schools.
The grant is tied to the Presidential Fitness Test, which was a public-school fixture for decades but was phased retired nether President Barack Obama successful favour of a programme that minimized contention and focused connected semipermanent health. Trump signed an bid past summertime to reestablish the fittingness test, which was created successful the 1950s.
"We're bringing it back," Trump said astatine an Oval Office ceremonial alongside children and nonrecreational athletes. "My medication is moving precise hard to support America's cherished diversion traditions and walk our values of excellence and competitiveness to the adjacent generation."
The earlier exam tested students connected a artillery of exercises, including a 1-mile tally and sit-ups. Those scoring supra the 85th percentile for their sex successful each constituent of the trial received the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, though details of the revived trial person yet to beryllium released.
Trump unveiled the grant astatine his table portion flanked by Cabinet members including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Housing Secretary Scott Turner. They were joined by children who said they played sports including football, volleyball, hockey and golf.
The trial is being made mandatory for students astatine 161 schools located connected U.S. subject installations, Hegseth said successful the Oval Office. He encouraged different schools crossed the state to follow.
President Donald Trump walks with kids during workout drills connected the southbound tract of the White House, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, successful Washington.
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
"We request young, strong, steadfast Americans, whether you service successful the subject oregon immoderate different facet of your life," Hegseth said. "The thought that contention is atrocious is the opening of diminution of a nation."
Trump, an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, emphasized the value of balancing some carnal and intelligence fitness, saying that it's "all astir the mind" astatine apical levels of competition. He praised the athletes astatine the White House lawsuit portion joking astir his ain fittingness regimen.
"I enactment retired truthful much, similar astir 1 infinitesimal a day, max - if I'm lucky," Trump said.
Trump said helium would beryllium signing the archetypal transcript of the caller grant connected Tuesday. After the Oval Office event, the kids were invited to the South Lawn to play sports to a soundtrack of songs similar "YMCA" and "Eye of the Tiger." Trump joined extracurricular arsenic the kids putted astatine a green, kicked shot balls and threw a shot with pitcher Noah Syndergaard.
The president connected the inaugural to Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. Speaking alongside Trump, Kennedy said it was "very unfortunate" that Obama discontinued the trial and cited accrued obesity among American children.
"We request to thatch radical however to triumph and however to suffer and however to process triumph and defeat," Kennedy said.
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