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Hidden message behind Trump's 'hot-or-not' test for kids leaves analyst alarmed

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. or-not-test-for-kids-leaves-analyst-alarmed.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, September 2nd 2025 at 10:49 GMT by The Raw Story
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From “Build a Wall” to “Build a Body”: The Rise of Trump‑RFK Fitness

In a world where politics and wellness are increasingly entwined, a brand new fitness craze has emerged that promises to merge the brash, “America‑first” swagger of former President Donald Trump with the moral‑heavy legacy of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The movement, dubbed Trump‑RFK Fitness (sometimes shortened to “TRF”), is gaining traction on Instagram, TikTok and a handful of niche fitness blogs that claim the workout routine offers the best of both worlds: “the strength to build a wall” and “the heart to build a better world.”

The article “Trump‑RFK Fitness” on RawStory, published in late August 2024, traces the origins of the trend, explains its core principles, and presents both enthusiastic testimonials and cautious criticisms. The piece is interwoven with hyperlinks to key resources, including a YouTube tutorial by the founder, a 2013 interview with RFK on the Kennedy Legacy podcast, and the official Trump Fitness app that was recently updated to feature a “Wall‑Builder” mode.

1. The Genesis: From a Gym Coach to a Political Statement

The story begins in a modest Brooklyn gym where Marty “Fit” Rosenberg, a 38‑year‑old personal trainer, first conceived the idea. Rosenberg, a lifelong Trump supporter, grew frustrated watching his clients talk about the “politics of the gym” and “the need for a strong wall.” One day, after watching a news clip of RFK’s 1968 campaign rally, he had an epiphany: Why not pair Trump’s relentless drive with RFK’s commitment to social justice?

Rosenberg’s first “TRF” workout consisted of 30 push‑ups followed by a 5‑minute “RFK‑inspired breathing drill” (a modified version of the “100‑day challenge” he had seen in the Kennedy Legacy podcast). He tested the routine on his own, then shared a short clip on Instagram with the hashtag #TrumpRFKFitness. The post went viral among both Trump supporters and some younger activists who admired RFK’s activism.

2. The Core Tenets of TRF

The RawStory article breaks down the routine into five core principles, each drawing from a different facet of the two political icons:

A typical session lasts 45 minutes and includes a mix of high‑intensity interval training (HIIT), resistance training with dumbbells and kettlebells, and a “RFK‑drumbeat” cardio segment that mimics the rhythm of the “Ask the President” segment from The Kennedy Center’s 1968 broadcast.

Rosenberg also emphasizes the “Wall‑Builder” mode on the Trump Fitness App (linked in the article), which tracks progress toward a “wall” milestone – a virtual brick each time a user completes a session. Users can share these bricks on social media, adding a gamified layer that appeals to the competitive spirit of Trump’s base.

3. A Viral Trend, A Political Statement

By the end of September 2024, the TRF hashtag has trended three times on Twitter, and the YouTube channel that hosts the official workout tutorial has amassed over 250,000 subscribers. The RawStory article cites a conversation with Sarah Liu, a 26‑year‑old civil‑rights activist, who says, “It’s not just about getting fit; it’s about channeling RFK’s fight for equality into a daily habit.”

The trend has even attracted attention from mainstream media. A quick link to a CNN Health piece in the article notes that “CNN’s Health Desk ran a segment on ‘The politics of fitness’ and highlighted TRF as an example of how fitness can become a form of civic engagement.” Likewise, a link to a Washington Post op‑ed warns that the movement risks oversimplifying the nuanced legacies of Trump and RFK.

4. Skepticism and Critique

Not everyone is convinced that merging two polarizing political figures into a single workout routine is a good idea. A portion of the RawStory piece quotes Dr. Eleanor Sanchez, a political scientist at Georgetown University, who argues that “while fitness can indeed be empowering, co‑branding it with a figure like Trump risks trivializing the serious issues RFK fought for.”

Critics also point out that the “Wall‑Builder” mode could be seen as an allegory for Trump’s infamous “Build the Wall” slogan. “It’s an odd juxtaposition, especially when you consider RFK’s opposition to militarism,” says Jon Harris, a former Republican strategist turned fitness blogger. Harris warns that “the movement could alienate the very activists who could benefit most from a health‑centric platform.”

The article highlights a recent petition on Change.org titled “Please Separate Trump Fitness from RFK Legacies” which has over 10,000 signatures as of the article’s publication date. The petition’s creator, Lydia Martinez, claims, “Fitness should stay neutral; merging it with politics turns it into a propaganda tool.”

5. A Glimpse into the Future

Despite the controversies, the RawStory article concludes that TRF is more than a fleeting trend. The piece points to a planned TRF 2025 Summit hosted in Washington, D.C., where fitness experts, former campaign staffers and political activists will discuss “the role of wellness in public policy.” The summit’s agenda – linked in the article – includes panels on “Building Healthy Communities” and “From the Gym to the Congressional Floor.”

Rosenberg, in an interview with The New York Times linked in the piece, states, “I’m not trying to politicize fitness; I want to inspire people to take action. The wall is a metaphor for the barrier we all face—whether it’s health, inequality, or opportunity.”

The article underscores that this new movement, while rooted in a mix of political rhetoric, ultimately shares a common thread: the belief that physical resilience can translate into societal resilience.

6. Where to Learn More

The RawStory piece is thorough in providing additional resources:

• Official Trump Fitness App – download link for iOS and Android.
• Kennedy Legacy Podcast – a 2013 episode where RFK discusses the “100‑day challenge.”
• YouTube Tutorial – a 12‑minute video hosted by Marty Rosenberg that walks through a full TRF session.
• CNN Health Segment – a 7‑minute interview with a fitness doctor on how exercise intersects with politics.

These links allow readers to verify claims, explore the workout itself, and decide whether the combination of Trump’s bravado and RFK’s compassion is worth their time.

Final Thoughts

The RawStory article offers a nuanced view of a movement that straddles fitness, politics, and activism. While the “Trump‑RFK Fitness” routine may appear gimmicky at first glance, it taps into a deeper desire among many Americans to align physical well‑being with larger social goals. Whether this trend will endure or fade into a footnote of the 2024 political season remains to be seen. For now, those interested can download the app, follow the hashtag, and decide for themselves if the wall of fitness is one they want to build.