U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, retired professional golfer Gary Player, MLB pitcher Noah Syndergaard, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, speaks during an event to sign a memorandum in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 5, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
(New York, NY) – Former Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard is making his political views clear as he works with the White House. Syndergaard attended a ceremony at the Oval Office, celebrating Trump’s plan to reinstate annual fitness tests. He was joined by other athletes including golfer Bryson Dechambeau and the NHL’s TJ Oshie. The Presidential Fitness Test, created in the 1950s, was phased out by former President Obama claiming the program prioritized competition over long term health.
While at the White House, the former Mets player along with the other star athletes hosted a field day competition featuring relay races and various exercise circuits. Appearing on Fox News after his day with the President, Syndergaard had nothing but gratitude and admiration for the commander in chief. He said despite their apparent camaraderie, it was in fact his first time meeting Trump. The former MLB player said it was a “dream come true”. He took some shots at the President’s critics.
“I just really don’t quite understand the negativity or the pessimism he gets with the media,” he said. Going on to call Trump “a patriotic guy” who “cares so much about everybody”. Trump signed an executive order creating the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, which would create school based programs highlighting and rewarding excellence in physical education.
