Saquon Barkley has declined an invitation to join President Donald Trump’s council on sports, health and vitamin, which is being revitalized underneath an government order that additionally reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test for American kids.
Barkley, the two,000-yard rusher for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, was on an inventory of sports personalities that included golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Nelly Korda, WWE government Paul “Triple H” Levesque, soccer Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and retired New York Yankees nice Mariano Rivera.
Barkley mentioned Monday, following Eagles’ follow, that he had truly declined the invitation.
“A pair months in the past, it was introduced to my crew concerning the council,” Barkley mentioned. “So I’m not likely too acquainted with it. I felt like that I’m going to be tremendous busy. Me and my household thought it will in all probability be of finest curiosity to not settle for that. I used to be positively a bit of shocked when my title was talked about. I’m assuming it is one thing nice, so I recognize it however was a bit of shocked when my title was talked about.”
Trump final week reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test for American kids, a fixture of public colleges for many years that gauged younger folks’s well being and athleticism with 1-mile runs, sit-ups and stretching workouts.
“This is a superb custom, and we’re bringing it again,” Trump mentioned of the health check that started in 1966 however was phased out in the course of the Obama administration.
The government order additionally reinvigorated the nationwide sports council which might have included Barkley.
Barkley received AP Offensive Player of the Year final season after speeding for two,005 yards, eighth-best in NFL historical past, in his first season with the Eagles.
Barkley has golfed with Trump and former President Barack Obama over the past yr and the operating again attended the White House celebration of the champion Eagles whereas some teammates — notably star quarterback Jalen Hurts — skipped the ceremony.
RELATED STORY | Philadelphia Eagles to kick off NFL season towards Dallas Cowboys
Barkley visited Trump in April at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and caught a journey with the president to Washington on Air Force One after which to the White House on Marine One.
“He liked it,” Trump mentioned then of Barkley’s quick flight on the presidential airplane. “He’s an awesome younger man and an unimaginable soccer participant. Saquon had a season for the ages, operating behind essentially the most highly effective offensive line within the NFL.”
Barkley, in the meantime, pushed again on social media criticism following the go to. He famous that he had already golfed with Obama, a Democrat.
“Maybe I simply respect the workplace, not a tough idea to perceive,” Barkley posted on X.
