At a high-energy event held within the Pentagon on Monday, Pete Hegseth and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched the "Pete and Bobby Challenge," a fitness initiative aimed at promoting health and physical readiness across the nation. With the goal to "make America healthy again," the pair led a group of US service members through a demanding workout to inspire American youth and bolster military recruitment standards.
The challenge, as outlined by Kennedy, is straightforward but strenuous: complete 100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups in any order in under 10 minutes. Hegseth added that five minutes is the "top standard" they hope participants will strive for. "We're going to be fit, not fat," Hegseth declared. "We want recruits that are ready to go and challenged."
Video: The Pentagon Challenge / Credit: X/@secdef
While both hosts completed the demanding circuit. Although reports in the media suggested Hegseth, 45, finishing in 5 minutes and 25 seconds and Kennedy, 71, in 5 minutes and 48 seconds, it could not be fully ascertained from the video, and in fact before they started, the Health secretary joked, "We are not going to be able to do it." It was the military personnel who set the benchmark for elite fitness. Several service members completed the challenge with remarkable speed:
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Navy Commander Gonzales finished in 3 minutes and 56 seconds.
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Gunnery Sergeant Prince clocked in at 3 minutes and 24 seconds.
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Gunnery Sergeant Hyde recorded the fastest time of the day, an impressive 2 minutes and 43 seconds.
The event concluded with a call to action, as Hegseth and Kennedy Jr. challenged others to take on the workout. Their challenges were extended to Sean Duffy, television personality Will Cain, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"We hope Americans will take this challenge and you'll pass it along," Hegseth said, emphasizing the need for a nation that is "fit," "healthy," and possesses a "healthy fighting force." Kennedy echoed the sentiment with a simple, powerful message: "Let's make America healthy again."
"President Trump inspired us to do this," Kennedy was later quoted on Newsmax. "This is the beginning of our tour, challenging Americans to get back in shape. Eat better, but also, you need to get out and exercise."
