US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (May 5) reinstated the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, reviving a decades-old school program aimed at encouraging competition, exercise and athletic performance among American students.
The move brings back the Presidential Fitness Test, a school-wide assessment that was once used in the United States before it was phased out under former President Barack Obama.
“We’re taking it back,” Trump said at an Oval Office event attended by children, athletes and senior officials.
“My administration is working very hard to defend America’s athletic traditions and pass our values of excellence and competitiveness to the next generation.”
The aptitude test returns to schools
The original test, which was introduced in the 1950s, measured students’ fitness through exercises such as a 1-mile run, sit-ups and other physical benchmarks.
Students who scored above the 85th percentile in each category were awarded the President’s Physical Fitness Award.
While full details of the revamped version have yet to be released, officials said it will again emphasize structured physical performance standards in schools.
Military schools to introduce mandatory testing
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the test will initially be mandatory in 161 schools located on US military installations.
“We need young, strong, healthy Americans, whether you serve in the military or in any other aspect of your life,” Hegseth said.
“The idea that competition is bad is the beginning of a nation’s decline.”
He also encouraged wider adoption across schools across the country.
Trump emphasizes fitness and competitiveness
Trump, who described himself as a sports enthusiast and golfer, emphasized physical and mental strength during the announcement.
He joked about his own fitness routine as he praised the young athletes in attendance at the White House.
“I exercise that much, about one minute a day, max — if I’m lucky,” Trump said.
He added that success in sports and life depends on mental discipline as much as physical ability.
“It’s all about the mind,” he said.
“Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
The initiative was tied to a broader campaign by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy, who spoke alongside Trump, criticized the decision to scrap the original test and expressed concern about the rising rate of childhood obesity in the US.
“It was very unfortunate that Obama cut the test,” Kennedy said.
“We have to teach people how to win and how to lose and how to process victories and defeats.”
The event will turn into a sports show
After the Oval Office announcement, children attending the event were taken to the South Lawn to participate in sports activities including soccer, baseball and golf.
The event featured music such as “YMCA” and “Eye of the Tiger,” with Trump briefly joining the outdoor activities.
Officials said the revamped program aims to encourage fitness, competition and a healthy lifestyle among students while boosting discipline and achievement in schools.
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