Recently, NHL star Matthew Tkachuk was named to President Donald Trump’s “Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition” alongside NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, among others.
In the era of Trump’s presidency, his ties to the world of athletics have made headlines recently due to his recent executive order reviving the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools nationwide. He also reestablished the previously mentioned council despite Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa expressing hesitancy at their offers to join. However, Tkachuk has recently stated that he has not yet decided whether to participate in Trump’s council.
Matthew Tkachuk Undecided on Trump’s Sports Council
Tkachuk told The New York Times that it was too early to decide on the Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and declined further comment. However, he also mentioned that his decision would give him more exposure.
“I’m not going to tell a player that’s not comfortable doing [more media],” Matthew said. “If they just treat it as a job, like a clock-in and clock-out, and just want to worry about that, hey, all to you. If that helps you play. Some guys are like that. Every team has guys like that,” Tkachuk said to The Athletic. “I think that if more guys could do [more], I think the better.”
President Trump honoring the Stanley Cup champs at the White House this afternoon.
Matthew Tkachuk: “This is such an incredible day for myself, and I wake up every day really grateful to be an American.” 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/pfMyJkGtu5
— Katie Engleson (@KatieEngleson) February 3, 2025
Tkachuk, a star forward for the reigning Stanley Cup Champion of the Florida Panthers, suffered a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia during the 4 Nations Face-Off and missed most of the remaining season before returning to action in the postseason.
The 27-year-old lefty played 52 games throughout the 2024-25 season, recording 57 points across 22 goals and 35 assists. In the playoffs en route to hoisting the Stanley Cup, he tallied 23 points.
Tkachuk said that more exposure for him brings the league more exposure as a whole.
“I think any exposure you get that can grow the game is very important to us,” Tkachuk also said. “We want to be guys that leave the game in a way better place than it was when we started. Just the way the world’s kind of trending, the opportunities for players are pretty seamless and easy for Brady and I. Whereas maybe other guys, they’re not as comfortable as we are in it.
“We enjoy it. We think it’s important to do. Hockey is not a job to us. It’s never felt like a job for us. It’s fun, it’s life, it’s what we’ve grown up in,” Tkachuk said.
The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition was established to decrease chronic disease, inactivity, and poor nutrition among American children.
