Trump Turns Obama-Era Youth Health Policy On Its Head
Trump Turns Obama-Era Youth Health Policy On Its Head
President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum on Tuesday that brought back the Presidential Fitness Test Award. The school-based fitness program that ended during the Obama administration gave this award to students who performed well.
Members of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and the National Fitness Foundation board will be at the signing. Some of the famous athletes who will be there are golfer Bryson DeChambeau, retired professional golfer Gary Player, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Amani Oruwariye, and MLB pitcher Noah Syndergaard.
The change brings back a performance-based standard for student fitness, which is similar to the Trump administration’s larger “Make America Healthy Again” campaign.
Last year, Trump signed an executive order to bring back the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and the Presidential Fitness Test. On Tuesday, a memo made it possible for the government to bring back the test and awards at all American schools, Fox News Digital learned.
According to a copy of the National Physical Fitness Award that Fox News Digital got, the new edition of the award focuses on measurable athletic performance standards, just like earlier iterations of the test that ranked students based on their physical achievements.
Former President Barack Obama ended the original Presidential Physical Fitness Test during his second term and replaced it with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, which is part of the “Let’s Move” campaign. At the time, critics said that the test put too much emphasis on performance and competitiveness, which made less athletic students less likely to do well.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower set up the President’s Council on Youth Fitness because research revealed that American kids were less fit than their European contemporaries. President John F. Kennedy started the President’s Council on Physical Fitness by having schools give fitness tests.
According to the Let’s Move website, the Obama-era Presidential youngsters Fitness Program was mostly about “assessing health versus athleticism for America’s youth.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that between 2021 and 2023, more than 21% of Americans ages 2 to 19 were obese, and 7% of American kids were severely obese.
Trump also held an event on the South Lawn with families and kids to celebrate National Youth Sports and Fitness Month.
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Trump was also asked about the conflict in Iran.
The president told Congress on Friday that hostilities between the United States and Iran have “terminated,” stating that a ceasefire implemented last month effectively ended the conflict as a key legal deadline arrived.
The claim came as Trump reached the 60-day mark under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which requires presidents to withdraw U.S. forces from unauthorized military engagements unless Congress approves continued action.
Despite the declaration, U.S. forces remain active in the region, and the administration has not ruled out additional strikes, The Washington Post reported.
In a letter to lawmakers, Trump argued that the absence of recent military exchanges signaled the end of hostilities.
“There has been no exchange of fire between United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026,” Trump wrote. “The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated.”
The president is arguing that because he implemented a cease-fire, that effectively reset the War Powers clock, so to speak, meaning any new military action in the region would simply restart the 60-day window.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth made a similar argument during testimony last week before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Trump also questioned the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution’s time limits, as have most all previous presidents since the law was passed toward the end of the Vietnam War.
“Most people consider it totally unconstitutional,” Trump told reporters. “Also, we had a ceasefire, so that gives you additional time.”
Democrats quickly challenged that interpretation, arguing that conditions on the ground do not reflect an end to the conflict. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) dismissed the claim in blunt terms, while other lawmakers pointed to ongoing risks facing U.S. forces.
Previous administrations have taken similar positions. President Barack Obama continued military operations in Libya beyond the 60-day window without seeking formal authorization, while President Bill Clinton’s administration argued that congressional funding effectively authorized U.S. involvement in Kosovo.
The War Powers Resolution allows for an additional 30-day withdrawal period if a president certifies that continued military engagement is necessary to ensure a safe exit. The Trump administration does not appear to have formally invoked that provision.
The Senate last week rejected a war powers resolution that would have directed the president to withdraw U.S. forces. The measure failed on a 50-47 vote, with some Republicans joining Democrats in support.
SHOWDOWN ON THE FIVE: Jessica Tarlov Drops Truth Bomb on GOP’s Controversial Voter Legislation
SHOWDOWN ON THE FIVE: Jessica Tarlov Drops Truth Bomb on GOP’s Controversial Voter Legislation
WASHINGTON — A ferocious battle over the soul of American democracy erupted on cable news this week, proving once again that the clash over election integrity is reaching a boiling point.
During a high-stakes segment on Fox News' top-rated program The Five, liberal co-host Jessica Tarlov ignited an intense firestorm by sounding the alarm on the Republican-backed SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act).
Her warning was sharp, direct, and unapologetic: This isn't just a simple Voter ID bill—it’s a bureaucratic roadblock designed to keep millions of legal Americans away from the ballot box.
"Far Beyond Voter ID": Tarlov Sounds the Alarm
While GOP proponents frame the SAVE Act as a common-sense measure to restore trust in elections, Tarlov shredded that narrative live on air, dissecting the fine print of the proposed federal mandate.
Under the bill, anyone registering to vote in federal elections would be legally required to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship—such as a physical U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate, or naturalization papers.
"People hear 'Voter ID' and think it’s just showing a driver's license at the counter," Tarlov argued. "It’s not. This bill demands physical proof of citizenship upfront. Millions of everyday, hard-working American citizens do not have a valid passport sitting in a drawer or immediate access to an official birth certificate. This creates an artificial barrier to a fundamental constitutional right." without instant paperwork access.
Integrity Guardrail or Voter Suppression? The Great Debate
The fiery television debate reflects a massive political rift tearing through Capitol Hill and statehouses across the country.
The Conservative Defense: Republican sponsors and conservative commentators insist the measure is vital to national security and sovereign elections. They argue that verifying citizenship at registration is a necessary safeguard to prevent non-citizens from ever slipping onto federal voter rolls.
The Progressive Pushback: Critics like Tarlov argue that non-citizen voting in federal elections is already illegal, strictly policed, and exceptionally rare. Opponents caution that adding heavy administrative hurdles will unintentionally disenfranchise lawful voters—particularly students, low-income citizens, rural voters, and women whose names have changed due to marriage.
The Stakes Couldn't Be Higher
As the debate over voter access versus election security intensifies, the SAVE Act has turned into a major political litmus test.
Is requiring physical proof of citizenship a mandatory protection to guarantee that every vote is lawful? Or is it an unnecessary, red-tape nightmare that punishes legal citizens for not having their paperwork in order?
One thing is certain: as long as voices like Jessica Tarlov continue to push back on prime-time television, the fight over who gets to vote—and how hard it is to do so—is far from over.
Jessica Tarlov Says Trump Has 35% Approval Rating in Most Polls
Supporters of the bill strongly disagree, saying it is designed to protect election integrity by preventing non-citizens from registering to vote. Opponents argue the existing safeguards are already sufficient and fear the measure could unintentionally disenfranchise lawful voters. Is the SAVE Act a necessary election safeguard, or does it create unnecessary barriers to voting?
