While he enjoys a loyal base of voters, some combination of his personality and policies has evoked outright hatred from many of his political foes.
But many Americans, including former New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, all that negativity just doesn’t make sense.
He expressed his thoughts on the matter in a recent interview after having had the opportunity to meet the commander in chief, as the New York Post reported:
“It’s a dream come true, I’m riding this bliss in this moment,” Syndergaard said of meeting Trump during an interview on Fox News Channel’s “The Ingraham Angle.”
“I really just don’t quite understand the negativity or the pessimism he gets from the media and some of the population of this nation because he’s just such a patriotic guy, and he cares so much [about] everybody and the health of this nation and the health of this world.”
Syndergaard went on to say he was “envious” of Trump’s mental energy at age 79.
“I’m envious of the mental energy that this guy has, the sharpness he has, the comedic nature of everything he says. He’s just a joy to be around,” Syndergaard said.
Syndergaard was one of Trump’s athlete guests at the White House Tuesday for the event celebrating Trump’s plan to bring annual fitness tests back to school in the United States.
The president’s new fitness standards sparked some discussion on social media this week:
Reviving the Presidential Fitness Test 💪🇺🇸
This National Physical Fitness & Sports Month, President Trump is celebrating strength, discipline, and that competitive American spirit—right where it belongs.
America’s youth take it to the South Lawn! pic.twitter.com/hXDhhA4NmI
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 5, 2026
That’s awesome! I received my award after completing the various fitness activities. I actually did the men’s fitness test, by mistake. They had me do the same things as the boys. I was thrilled to get the award. Met an Olympic champion during the ceremony. Very cool. 😎
— Dollie (@Dollie494241) May 6, 2026
This is much needed. It’s time to make this country healthy again!
— Erik Telford (@ErikTelford) May 5, 2026
Here’s what Fox News reported about the latest development:
Trump first signed an executive order to reestablish the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition and the Presidential Fitness Test last year, with the memorandum on Tuesday paving the way for the administration to restore the test and awards at all American schools, Fox News Digital learned.
The revitalized award emphasizes measurable athletic performance standards similar to earlier versions of the test, which ranked students based on physical achievement, according to a copy of the National Physical Fitness Award obtained by Fox News Digital.
The original Presidential Physical Fitness Test was phased out during former President Barack Obama’s second term and replaced with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, part of the “Let’s Move” initiative. Critics at the time argued that the test focused too much on performance and competition, discouraging less athletic students.
The President’s Council on Youth Fitness was first established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower after studies showed American children were less physically fit than European peers. Schools began administering a fitness test under President John F. Kennedy, launching the President’s Council on Physical Fitness.
Here’s a clip of Syndergaard’s appearance on Fox News:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmAII-dY9bg
