NEED TO KNOW
- Saquon Barkley initially declined an invitation to sit down on President Trump’s nationwide sports activities council
- The Eagles star instructed reporters on Monday, Aug. 4 that he was “shocked’ to see his identify within the announcement of council members
- Barkley beforehand performed golf with Trump, and acquired pushback on social media for doing so
It’s information to Saquon Barkley that he’s a member of President Trump’s council on sports activities, health and vitamin.
The Philadelphia Eagles star instructed reporters on Monday, Aug. 4 that he was “shocked” to see his identify connected to an inventory of athletes and different sports activities figures who’re on the council, which was created after Trump signed an govt order on Thursday, July 31.
“A pair months in the past, it was dropped at my staff concerning the council,” Barkley, 28, mentioned after apply at Eagles coaching camp. “So I am probably not too accustomed to it.”
He added, “I felt like I’m going to be tremendous busy, so me and my household thought it might most likely be in my finest curiosity to not settle for that. I used to be undoubtedly a little bit shocked when my identify was talked about. I am assuming it is one thing nice, so I respect it however was a little bit shocked when my identify was talked about.”
Barkley’s identify appeared alongside different present and former NFL gamers together with Kansas Metropolis Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, San Francisco 49ers defensive finish Nick Bosa, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and retired Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor and Colts offensive guard Cody Campbell.
LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau and LPGA star Nelly Korda and retired golfers Jack Nicklaus, Gary Participant and Annika Sörenstsam are additionally on the council, which incorporates NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Former and present hockey stars Wayne Gretzky and Matthew Tkachuk, plus MLB Corridor of Famer Mariano Rivera made the lower, as did former WWE wrestler Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
In line with a White Home press launch, the fee “will create school-based packages to reward excellence in bodily training and help the event of a Presidential Health Award” and “can even play an necessary position in restoring custom to varsity athletics, together with reforming the damaged switch portal and preserving males out of girls’s sports activities.”
Barkley has been criticized for his relationship with Trump previous to this announcement, and in April, pushed again on social media after he was seen with the president at his Bedminster, N.J. golf membership and on Air Power One.
Final season’s speeding chief inspired his followers on X to “get out of my mentions with all this politics” after his social media pages stuffed with feedback from followers calling him out for his actions on Monday, April 28.
“Lol some individuals are actually upset trigger I performed golf and flew to the White Home with the PRESIDENT,” Barkley wrote. “Perhaps I simply respect the workplace, not a tough idea to grasp. Simply golfed with Obama not too way back…and stay up for ending my spherical with Trump!”
Later that day, Barkley was praised by Trump as he and a portion of the Eagles visited the White Home to have fun their 2025 Tremendous Bowl win. Round a dozen gamers, together with MVP and quarterback Jalen Hurts, declined to attend.
