On August 19, 2025, the usually staid Pentagon Athletic Center was buzzing with a different kind of energy. Instead of the typical military drills, the gym played host to a spectacle that blended politics, pop culture, and a hefty dose of bravado: the inaugural "Pete and Bobby Challenge," a White House fitness initiative fronted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The event marked a new chapter in America's long, complicated relationship with presidential fitness campaigns—and it did so with a uniquely modern twist.
Kennedy, 71, and Hegseth, 45, are hardly strangers to the spotlight. Kennedy, who famously ran in the 2023 Democratic primary and has since changed political parties, has always been known for his outspoken approach and, more recently, for his penchant for showing off his physique. His habit of wearing jeans to the gym (yes, jeans!) has become something of a trademark, a detail that both amuses and bemuses his followers and detractors alike. According to The Guardian, Kennedy once posted a topless video of himself doing push-ups, urging his supporters to "get in shape" for his presidency—a message he’s carried into his current role.
Hegseth, a former Army infantry officer and ex-Fox News pundit, brings his own brand of intensity to the mix. Together, the two have launched a challenge designed not just for the military, but for all Americans—especially the young. The rules are simple but daunting: complete 100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups in under ten minutes. On that August morning, Kennedy and Hegseth set the bar high, inviting service members from all five military branches and civilian defense employees to join them. The promotional footage, set to Guy Mar’s "Metatron," captured the event’s competitive spirit and light-hearted bravado.
But what’s the real aim here? As Hegseth put it in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), "We’re gonna be fit, not fat. We want recruits that are ready to go and challenged." The slogan echoes the campaign’s broader theme: "Make America Healthy Again," a movement Kennedy has championed as part of his push to improve the fitness of the U.S. military and the nation at large. The challenge was spurred, at least in part, by a sobering statistic: a report from April 2025 revealed that two-thirds of Army troops were overweight. Hegseth didn’t mince words, calling the findings "unacceptable" and vowing to enforce "REAL fitness & weight standards."
While the challenge originated in the Pentagon, Kennedy and Hegseth are determined to take it nationwide. "Pete and I are going to do our part to encourage American youth to do this challenge," Kennedy said, according to The Times. The hope is that the trend will catch fire online, inspiring a new generation to prioritize health and fitness. To that end, they’ve already thrown down the gauntlet to others in the public eye, challenging Transport Secretary Sean Duffy, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Dan Caine, and Fox News’ Will Cain to take part.
At the heart of the event, though, was a surprising source of inspiration: President Donald Trump. Both Kennedy and Hegseth credited the 79-year-old president for motivating them to get "fit, not fat." Kennedy stated, "It was President Trump who inspired us to do this," while Hegseth, with characteristic flair, added, "Thank you, President Trump, for setting the example. Presidential physical fitness, Make America Healthy Again, fit, not fat." The irony, of course, is hard to miss. Trump is famously exercise-averse and a lover of fast food—a detail that hasn’t escaped the attention of the press or the public.
According to The New York Post, Trump’s dietary habits are legendary. During his first term, he was known to order two Big Macs, two Filet-O-Fish sandwiches, and a chocolate malted from McDonald’s—a meal that clocks in at a staggering 2,400 calories. He even hosted college athletes at the White House with a spread of fast food during the 2019 government shutdown. In 2019, the White House physician classified Trump as obese, with a weight of 243 pounds and a BMI of 30.4. By April 2025, however, reports indicated he had slimmed down to 224 pounds. Despite this, Trump’s love for fast food persists; aides were seen delivering McDonald’s to him during his hush-money trial in New York, and he reportedly ordered pizza, hotdogs, and more at a college football game last fall.
Still, Kennedy and Hegseth maintain that Trump’s recent efforts—and the executive order he signed in July 2025 to re-establish the Presidential Fitness Test and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition—have provided the spark for this new initiative. Kennedy said the executive order "marked the start of a tour to improve the health of Americans," crediting Trump for setting the wheels in motion. Whether the president’s personal habits match the campaign’s ethos is another story, but there’s no denying the political theater at play.
The competition itself was fierce. Kennedy, ever the showman, completed the challenge in five minutes and 48 seconds, narrowly losing to Hegseth, who finished in five minutes and 25 seconds. The overall winner, however, was Daquan Hye, a Marine sergeant, who blew past both politicians with a jaw-dropping time of two minutes and 43 seconds. The event wasn’t just about the numbers—it was about setting an example, however imperfect, and rallying Americans around a common goal.
Beyond the spectacle, the challenge taps into a long-standing tradition of presidential fitness campaigns. From John F. Kennedy’s push for physical vigor in the 1960s to the Reagan-era fitness councils, American leaders have often sought to link national strength with personal health. But rarely has the campaign been so intertwined with social media, pop culture, and the quirks of its political champions. This time, the movement is as much about going viral as it is about getting healthy.
Of course, the contradictions remain. Trump’s own struggles with weight and his fondness for fast food are well documented. According to sources cited by The New York Post, First Lady Melania Trump and Kennedy were "ganging up" on Trump to encourage healthier habits, though there’s little evidence those efforts have paid off. Still, the symbolism of bipartisan—or at least cross-party—collaboration on health is hard to ignore, especially as Kennedy, once a Democratic contender, now stands firmly in the Trump coalition.
As the dust settles from the first "Pete and Bobby Challenge," one thing is clear: the campaign is about more than just pull-ups and push-ups. It’s a test of will, a bit of political theater, and a genuine attempt to address a real problem—America’s ongoing struggle with fitness and obesity. Whether the movement will catch on beyond the Beltway remains to be seen, but for now, Kennedy, Hegseth, and their unlikely inspiration are determined to keep America moving—jeans, fast food, and all.
