White House defends Trump’s health with ‘active’ schedule when asked if he’ll workout with RFK Jr

RFK Jr launched a nationwide fitness initiative with Pete Hegseth, urging Americans to embrace workouts under ‘Make America Healthy Again’
PUBLISHED AUG 22, 2025
The White House shifted focus when pressed on whether President Donald Trump would participate in RFK Jr’s 'Make America Healthy Again' campaign (Getty Images)
The White House shifted focus when pressed on whether President Donald Trump would participate in RFK Jr’s 'Make America Healthy Again' campaign (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Robert F Kennedy Jr has been calling on Americans to embrace fitness, teaming up with cabinet members in a string of unusual workout challenges.

But when asked whether President Donald Trump would be joining in on the “Make America Healthy Again” push, the White House struck a different note.

White House defends Donald Trump’s active lifestyle

U.S. President Donald Trump walks towards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on March 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is headed to Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach, Florida for the weekend. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump walks towards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on March 28, 2025 in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Spokesman Kush Desai highlighted Trump’s demanding itinerary as proof of his stamina, while sidestepping questions about whether the 79-year-old had attempted a pull-up recently.

“Just this past Friday, President Trump departed the White House at 6:30 am, flew to Alaska, met with President Vladimir Putin to secure a historic breakthrough towards peace, touched base with European leaders over the phone on Air Force One, arrived back at the White House at 3 am on Saturday, and then hit the golf course just hours later at noon,” Desai told Radar Online.

He added, “President Trump’s fitness and strength as a leader, negotiator, and champion golfer are unimpeachable.”

Donald Trump insists on ‘good shape’ during health exams

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 01: U.S. President Donald Trump walks with golfer Bryson DeChambeau to the Oval Office at the White House on June 01, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump and Bryson DeChambeau rode back together from Trump National Club Sunday afternoon. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump walks with golfer Bryson DeChambeau to the Oval Office at the White House on June 01, 2025 in Washington, DC (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Trump has repeatedly boasted about his physical condition. Earlier this year, after spending nearly five hours at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for his annual physical, he assured reporters: “I did well.”

“I was there for a long time. I think I did very well,” he said, before describing himself as having “a good heart, a good soul, a very good soul.” Trump also emphasized that he had aced a cognitive exam, declaring, “I got every answer right.”

Back in 2018, the then-president claimed he already had an “exercise routine,” telling reporters: “I get exercise. I mean, I walk, I this, I that.”

RFK Jr and Pete Hegseth push ‘Make America Healthy Again’

While Trump touts his golf and cognitive scores, RFK Jr and Pete Hegseth have been promoting what they call the “Pete and Bobby Challenge.” In a video released online, the pair encouraged cabinet members and Americans to hit the gym and share their workouts publicly.



 

The US Defense Secretary, who boasted of cranking out 100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups in less than six minutes, didn’t hold back his stance on weight. “It's all about Make America Healthy Again, we're gonna be fit, not fat, we want recruits that are ready to go,” the 45-year-old declared in a promotional video.

Kennedy, 71, joined the effort in jeans, stressing: “Pete and I are going to do our part to encourage American youth to do this challenge.” But while the pair tried to spark a viral fitness trend, critics online remained skeptical.

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