Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) score on a 19-yard touchdown run during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Eric Hartline
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to establish a new council on sports, fitness and nutrition. The council will have up to 30 members, and Trump named Eagles running back Saquon Barkley as one of the founding members.
Well, Barkley heard the news at the same time as everyone else, and according to him, it isn't true.
"A couple months ago, it was brought to my team about the council. So I'm not really too familiar with it," Barkley told reporters after Eagles practice at the NovaCare facility Monday.
"I felt like I am going to be super busy, so me and my family thought it would probably be of best interest to not accept that. I was definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned. I'm assuming it's something great, so I appreciate it but was a little shocked when my name was mentioned."
Trump signed the executive order Thursday. According to the White House, the order reinstates the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools and "revitalizes" the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. The Council will "create school-based programs to reward excellence in physical education" and support the development of a Presidential Fitness Award.
Barkley was one of the athletes listed in the press release as a member of the Council. Other NFL names on the list include commissioner Roger Goodell, fellow players Nick Bosa, Harrison Butker and Tua Tagovailoa, and former players Lawrence Taylor and Tony Romo.
Barkley somewhat infamously golfed with President Trump in New Jersey before the Eagles's post-Super Bowl LIX visit to the White House in April. He then had to defend himself against the sizable social media backlash he received.
"Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago... and look forward to finishing my round with Trump ! Now ya get out my mentions with all this politics and have amazing day," Barkley wrote on X.
It'll be interesting to see if Trump has a response to Barkley declining his invitation to join the council, both privately and now publicly. It'll also be worth monitoring the other athletes and executives named in the White House's press release to see if they, too, come forward and decline the invitation.
