Eagles star Saquon Barkley declined an invitation to join President Donald Trump’s council on sports, fitness, and nutrition. The White House sports council, which was created under an executive order, will also reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test.
The aim is to find solutions to chronic disease, high rates of obesity, inactivity, and poor nutrition among children, according to the memo. The council will have up to 30 members, per the executive order.
Barkley was on a list of sports personalities that included former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Nelly Korda, former ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky and WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
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But Barkley told reporters on Monday that he declined the invitation.
“A couple months ago, it was brought to my team about the council,” Barkley said after Monday’s Eagles practice session. “So I’m not really too familiar with it. I felt like that I am going to be super busy. 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.”
In April, the Philadelphia Eagles star and Super Bowl winner took to social media to respond to the online backlash that came his way after he was spotted hanging out with Trump.
Barkley spent time with Trump after the Philadelphia Eagles accepted to visit the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Barkley, 28, and Trump were spotted alighting from the Marine One in New Jersey and seemingly exchanging pleasantries while walking side by side.
“What a nice guy,” Trump said in reference to Barkley while speaking to reporters at the airport. “I wanted to race him, but I decided not to do it.”
Trump and Barkley later made their way onto Air Force One. The pair were also spotted hanging out at the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey.
After the photos and videos of the two hanging out were circulated on social media, Barkley received backlash. But the 28-year-old defended his actions.
“Lol some people are really upset cause I played golfed and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT,” he wrote on X. “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.”
