Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley announced Monday that he declined President Donald Trump’s invitation to serve on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
The White House announced Barkley as one of 20 athletes, coaches, and other professional sports notables on the council. The administration also tapped golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Annika Sörenstam, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, and former hockey great Wayne Gretzky as council members.
In an Eagles training camp press conference on Monday, Barkley said he was “shocked” to see his name appear on the list.
“A couple months ago, it was brought to my team about the council, so I’m not really too familiar with it,” Barkley said during Monday’s press conference. “I felt like that I’m going to be super busy, so me and my family thought it was probably of best interest to not accept that. So, [I] was definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned.”
According to the executive order, the council is part of the Trump administration’s initiative to “Make America Healthy Again.” It will recommend strategies to expand youth involvement in sports and physical activities in schools.
“The executive order will be focused on strengthening athletics in our country and making America healthy again,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said last Thursday. “And we are going to reimplement the Presidential Fitness Test in America’s schools, which is, I think, something all Americans can get behind.”
In April, Barkley joined Trump for a round of golf at his Trump National course in Bedminster, New Jersey. That same week, Barkley flew to the White House with his fellow Eagles teammates for a ceremony to honor their 40-22 Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Several Eagles players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, skipped out on the White House visit altogether.
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After taking some heat online for the round of golf, Barkley tweeted, “lol some people are really upset cause I played golfed and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT. 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!”
Though he did back away from a role on Trump’s council Monday, Barkley said he appreciated the president’s thoughts behind the invitation. “I’m assuming it’s something great. So I appreciate it, but was a little shocked when my name was mentioned,” Barkley said.
