Trump Relaunches Presidential Physical Fitness Award

President Trump revived the Presidential Physical Fitness Award on Tuesday as part of his push to return an annual physical fitness test to America's schools. The award is tied to the Presidential Fitness Test, which was a public-school fixture for decades but was phased out under Barack Obama in favor of a program that minimized competition and focused on long-term health, the AP reports. Trump signed an order last summer to reestablish the fitness test, which was created in the 1950s.

• "We're bringing it back," Trump said at an Oval Office ceremony alongside children and professional athletes. "My administration is working very hard to defend America's cherished athletic traditions and pass our values of excellence and competitiveness to the next generation."

• The earlier exam tested students on a battery of exercises, including a 1-mile run and sit-ups. Those scoring above the 85th percentile for their gender in each component of the test received the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, though details of the revived test have yet to be released.
• Trump unveiled the award at his desk while 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 test is being made mandatory for students at 161 schools located on US military installations, Hegseth said in the Oval Office. He encouraged other schools across the country to follow.

• "It is indeed a beautiful day to celebrate America's athletic traditions and champions—physical fitness, and all those things I work so hard at on a personal basis," Trump said at the signing, per USA Today. "I work out so much, like about one minute a day max—if I'm lucky," he joked.
• Trump veered off the topic of sports to discuss subjects including his poll numbers, the stock market, the Nobel Peace Prize, and the Iran war, Rolling Stone reports. "We can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon," Trump told the children. "You might be too young for this. I don't know. You probably know better than most people. But you can't let a bunch of lunatics have a nuclear weapon or the world would be in trouble."
• Trump said he would be signing the first copy of the new award on Tuesday. After the Oval Office event, the kids were invited to the South Lawn to play sports to a soundtrack of songs like "YMCA" and "Eye of the Tiger." Trump joined outside as the kids putted at a green, kicked soccer balls, and threw a baseball with pitcher Noah Syndergaard.