Hegseth And RFK Jr. Launch ‘Pete And Bobby Challenge’ With High-Energy Gym Showdown

In a show of grit and camaraderie, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled the “Pete and Bobby Challenge” on Monday with a Pentagon gym showdown.

The duo released a high-energy video urging Americans to test themselves with 100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups against the clock—a fitness feat that saw Hegseth, 45, narrowly edge out the 71-year-old Kennedy, while military personnel in the room crushed the same routine.

“We had our Pete and Bobby challenge today, 50 pull-ups. 100 push-ups. You try to get under five minutes,” Kennedy explained, calling the five-minute goal the top standard. “Pete and I are going to do our part and encourage America’s youth to do this challenge…in any order you want in less than 10 minutes.”

Hegseth, a battle-tested veteran, completed the challenge in 5:25, while Kennedy, who wore blue jeans, finished in 5:48.

President Trump set the example by putting forth efforts to make America healthy again.

That’s why we are introducing the Pete and Bobby challenge.

100 push-ups. 50 pull-ups. 10 minutes. pic.twitter.com/ppRrwqSUm0

— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) August 18, 2025

“It’s all about making America healthy again. We’re going to be fit, not fat,” said Hegseth. “We want recruits that are ready to go.”

Shot in the Pentagon Athletic Center, the video shows various service members participating in the challenge, with Hegseth exhorting one contender. Turning to the camera, declaring, “The Secretary of Defense shark attack,” then leans down to him, yelling, “You can do better! … Let’s go!”

After celebrating one participant completing the routine in just 2:43, Hegseth joked, “Maybe we should send the challenge to [Transportation Secretary] Sean Duffy! … I’m going to throw it on the military side, too. Let’s challenge the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, ‘Razin’ Caine! And then my friend on TV, [Fox News journalist] Will Cain. How about the Pete and Bobby challenge, 100 push-ups, 50 pull-ups?”

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“We hope Americans will take this challenge and you’ll pass it along so that we’re fit the way we need to and be healthy and have a healthy fighting force,” Hegseth enthused.

“Let’s make America healthy again,” Kennedy concludes.

“Amen,” Hegseth, a devoutly religious Christian, agrees.

In March, Hegseth issued a memo ordering a department-wide review of existing standards set by U.S. military branches pertaining to physical fitness. He declared, “We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force. Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging.”

In April, Hegseth gave a speech at the Army War College in which he stated, “To be lethal, you have to trust that the warrior alongside you in battle or the troops fighting in the unit that many of you will lead are capable, truly physically capable of doing what is necessary under fire. You need to be fit, not fat, sharp, not shabby.”