Saquon Barkley rejects Donald Trump’s fitness council after being ‘appointed’ without agreement

Imagine opening social media and finding out you’ve been “appointed” to a government council without ever saying yes. That’s exactly what happened to Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who recently discovered his name listed on President Donald Trump’s newly revived President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. While the White House made it sound official, Barkley says, “hold up, I never agreed to this.” And just like that, the internet went into full-blown chaos.Turns out, Barkley had been approached months ago about joining but he declined. So, what gives? Either someone messed up big time, or the Trump team jumped the gun.

Saquon Barkley says he declined the invitation and was shocked to see his name listed

Barkley didn’t mince words, he told reporters he was “shocked” to see his name on Trump’s official list for the fitness council. Apparently, he had been contacted months ago to join, but respectfully turned it down due to time commitments and NFL priorities. His reaction? “I told them I couldn't commit, and I never heard back. So I was surprised to see it go public.”

In short: Barkley was never officially on board. And now that his name is being used without consent, he’s speaking out to clear the air.

Donald Trump’s announcement featured big names but not all of them were confirmed members

On July 31, Trump proudly announced his new roster for the revamped President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. The list included 49ers star Nick Bosa and Saquon Barkley. The goal? Bring back the classic Presidential Physical Fitness Test and promote health across the country.

But Barkley’s pushback raises a major red flag: Were all the names on that list actually confirmed? Or was the announcement made prematurely, banking on star power before locking people in?Social media wasted no time turning this story into meme material. Some joked that Trump “drafted” Barkley like it was fantasy football. Others compared it to being added to a group project without volunteering. A few even wondered if any other athletes would speak up next.

Barkley says this isn’t about politics, he just didn’t sign up for this

For the record, Saquon Barkley made it clear: this isn’t a political statement. He’s not throwing shots at Trump or taking sides. He’s simply staying focused on his real job, prepping for a massive season with the Philadelphia Eagles. And he’s setting a boundary that a lot of fans are applauding: Don’t use someone’s name unless they’ve officially said yes.So while his name might still appear in the official announcement, Barkley isn’t playing ball on this one.Also read - “Elite idiot”: Tom Brady called out by Jason Whitlock after telling Scottie Scheffler to prioritize career over family