(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The New York Times came under fire on Monday for running a hit piece against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pro-exercise campaign.
The leftist newspaper, as legacy media often does, leaned on so-called experts cautioning “against jumping into a difficult routine suggested by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pete Hegseth.”
Its headline—100 Push-Ups and 50 Pull-Ups in Under 10 Minutes. What Could Go Wrong?—was predictably snarky.
The piece targeted the “Pete and Bobby Challenge,” a social media campaign aimed at raising awareness about fitness and weight loss. However, according to The Times and their quoted experts, the exercise “may not be for everyone.”
“For the average person, I would definitely recommend building volume in these movements over three to four weeks before giving it a go,” said Utah athlete Dallin Pepper.
The leftist rag then cited Toronto-based personal trainer Chris Smits to say that the regimen proposed by Hegseth and Kennedy is not feasible for most Americans.
Citing experts is a common tactic in legacy media attacks on conservatives. Self-described journalists pick a topic, guide the experts toward the conclusions they desire and then publish the story.
This cycle allows them to wash their hands by claiming they are simply reporting.
On X, critics piled on The Times, describing the hit piece as predictable as it was laughable.
“The New York Times really hates working out,” wrote Republican communicator Nathan Brand.
the New York Times really hates working out pic.twitter.com/m0lPBMnNnu
— Nathan Brand (@NathanBrandWA) August 26, 2025
Media personality Collin Rugg added: “The @TheBabylonBee couldn’t even come up with something as insane as this.”
Fitness expert Oliver Anwar quipped, “This is confirmation that The New York Times is run by low-T softies.”
The New York Times is warning against RFK Jr. & Pete Hegseth's 100 Push-Ups & 50 Pull-Ups challenge by citing "experts" who say it could be dangerous.
One Canadian 'trainer' cited by the NYT said the challenge could give people "serious muscle strains or tears."
"Pushing for… pic.twitter.com/H54RQhSPAb
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 25, 2025
