Saquon Barkley Rejects Invite to Join Trump's Sports Council

Saquon Barkley, a star running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, has declined an invitation to join President Donald Trump's council on sports, fitness, and nutrition. The council is being revitalized under an executive order that also reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test for American children.

Barkley was one of several sports personalities who received an invitation to join the council, which includes golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Nelly Korda, WWE executive Paul "Triple H" Levesque, football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, and retired New York Yankees great Mariano Rivera.

"A couple months ago, it was brought to my team about the council," Barkley said. "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."

Trump reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test for American children last week, a fixture of public schools for decades that gauged young people's health and athleticism with 1-mile runs, sit-ups, and stretching exercises. The executive order also reinvigorated the national sports council.