The Eagles have declined President Donald Trump’s invitation to join the Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, as conveyed through Saquon Barkley.
After practice on Monday, Barkley expressed his surprise upon hearing his name mentioned, stating he decided to pass on the offer after discussions with his family.
“A few months back, he brought the council idea to my team, so it was a bit unexpected for me,” Barkley noted. “I was feeling pretty overwhelmed, and my family thought it was probably best for me not to accept. When I heard my name, I was definitely taken aback.”
Trump had signed the executive order on July 31, which included other notable figures like Vice President J.D. Vance and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., along with sports legends like Bryson DeChambeau and NFL star Lawrence Taylor.
This comes just months after Barkley spent time with Trump at the National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and later visited Washington, D.C. with him.
He had also engaged with the president a day before his visit to the White House on April 28, which marked the celebration of the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl victory.
Barkley faced some criticism at that time but mentioned he respected Trump. He remarked, “I played golf and flew to the White House with the president, so some people are really upset,” he shared on social media.
