Saquon Barkley declines Trump invite to join sports council
Super Bowl champion Saquon Barkley on Monday said he would not join President Trump’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
“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 a press conference. "I felt like I am going to be super busy, so 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," he continued. "I'm assuming it's something great, so I appreciate it but was a little shocked when my name was mentioned."
The Philadelphia Eagles running back has notably golfed with Trump at his resort in Bedminster, N.J., and returned to the White House with him on Air Force One earlier this year.
The April cameo of the president alongside Barkley sparked some criticism, but the leader lauded the star NFL player as a great athlete.
“He’s a great young guy and an incredible football player. Saquon had a season for the ages, running behind the most powerful offensive line in the NFL,” Trump said of his time with Saquon, according to The Associated Press.
The football star was floated to be one of 30 members of the White House sports council, created under an executive order that will also reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test. The objective is to tackle high rates of obesity, chronic disease, inactivity, and poor nutrition among the nation’s children, according to the memo.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor; retired and current players including Nick Bosa, Tua Tagovailoa and Harrison Butker and former ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky are expected to serve on Trump’s council. It will be headed by professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau.
"I'm proud to be on this team. I don't know what we're supposed to be doing, but I'm here to serve. I'm here to serve you," Taylor said during the executive order signing at the White House last week.
"I'm going to do the best I can for as long as I can," he added.
While Taylor’s tasks weren’t immediately outlined, others were given specific roles including Bosa who will advise the president on college athletics and women's sports.