When President Donald Trump welcomed athletes to the White House on Tuesday, May 5, to announce the return of the Presidential Fitness Test, the spotlight quickly shifted from the executive order to one golfer's impressive build.
Professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau became the unexpected center of attention as Trump couldn't resist commenting on his physique. The Presidential Fitness Test, originally launched in 1966, challenged schoolchildren with exercises like sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups, running, and flexibility drills. It was redesigned in 2012 to emphasize individual health over athletic performance—but Trump's remarks took the event in a different direction.
As the president signed the order, he called out DeChambeau specifically, praising the golfer for his support of the program's reinstatement. But the compliments didn't stop there. Trump launched into a detailed discussion of DeChambeau's body transformation and muscle-building abilities.
"Bryson's amazing. … He's somebody that can put on 25, 30 – at one point, I guess, he put on almost 50 pounds. You remember? He looked like a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers," the president gushed.
However, Trump noted that the added bulk eventually worked against DeChambeau on the course. "He had too much speed. He wanted to bring it down a little bit," he explained.
What truly impressed the president was DeChambeau's apparent control over his physique. Trump compared it to a yo-yo, adding that the golfer achieves these changes without the help of weight-loss drugs. "He doesn't need the fat shot," Trump remarked, noting that when he asked DeChambeau about it, the golfer didn't even recognize the reference.
"He's like a scientist with his body. He's a great guy, and he's an absolute champion," Trump added.
DeChambeau has been open about his complicated relationship with weight throughout his career. In an August 2025 appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," he reflected on the physical toll of his heaviest days. "I went from 204-5 pounds to, at my peak, I was 240. Huge. Yeah, it was brutal. I couldn't breathe. … I always felt winded," he recalled.
After slimming back down to around 220 to 225 pounds, DeChambeau noticed a dramatic difference on the course. His swing speed jumped roughly 20 miles per hour, adding nearly 30 yards of carry distance—a game-changing improvement for any golfer looking to up their performance.