“I usually read stories about myself,” Trump said when asked if he has time to read for fun while serving as President
U.S. President Donald Trump joined second lady Usha Vance on her podcast where guests read picture books to children, but Trump, who is notorious for veering off script, offered a running commentary on his predecessors, his physique, and how he’s spending his time in the White House.
In Trump’s appearance on Ms. Vance’s Storytime with the Second Lady podcast, which was posted online on Friday, the President read Presidents Play! a children’s book from the White House Historical Association that features illustrations of the presidents enjoying sports and using the White House and its grounds for recreation.
Trump pre-taped the appearance in mid-June in the White House’s Oval Office, where the abundant gold accents he added were supplemented for the occasion with a bald eagle stuffed animal, tables made up of stacks of oversized books and a globe made out of Legos.
When Ms. Vance asked Trump if he has much time to read for fun while serving as President, he replied that he ends up mostly reading newspapers.
“I usually read stories about myself,” Trump said.
On past presidents
As Trump turned through the children’s book, he made observations about past presidents, cracked some jokes, and threw in a plug for the extensive ballroom he’s building on the White House grounds.
He described Lyndon Johnson as a “tough cookie,” Ronald Reagan as a “high-quality person” and “like your father was president,” and John F. Kennedy as “the second-most good-looking president.” Left unsaid was who Trump felt was the best-looking president.
Richard Nixon, the only President to resign the office after he became embroiled in the Watergate scandal, “got himself into trouble, I guess.” Herbert Hoover, who was president during the Great Depression, was depicted in the book playing a game he made up called “Hoover Ball.”
“That worked out better for him than the economy,” Trump quipped.
On Barack Obama
Barack Obama, who has been a longtime object of Trump’s derision, was illustrated playing basketball. Trump, calling him “Barack Hussein Obama,” said he doubted Obama was a good basketball player. He then shared that Obama’s favourite sport is golf, but added, “He won’t be in the Master’s anytime soon.”
On Bill Clinton
When he reached a page with a drawing of Bill Clinton running on the jogging track the former president installed at the White House, Trump remarked, “I don’t think I’ll ever do that.” But he added that he likes Clinton “a lot.”
On his own physique
Some of the other presidents’ physical activity prompted some reflection on his own physique. When he saw Gerald Ford swimming in a pool, Trump said: “I don’t know if I look good in a bathing suit. I haven’t had a bathing suit in a long time.”
William Howard Taft, who was known for his girth, “was our heaviest president,” Trump said.
“I have to be careful because I don’t want to supersede his record. And a thing like that would be possible if I allowed it to happen. For all of you out there watching, keep yourself in good shape.”
Advice to children
In addition to encouraging young viewers to stay in shape, Trump offered a somewhat cloudy message when the second lady asked him for his advice to children on why they should celebrate the country on July 4th.
“We have a great country. We have a country that, it’s on a little bit of a ledge right now. It can go one way or another, you understand that. But we’re going to make it go the other. And we’re going to make America greater than ever before.”
