Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Jul 4: US President Donald Trump mixed humour with personal opinions on several former American presidents while reading a children's book during an appearance on Second Lady Usha Vance's podcast, Storytime with the Second Lady.
The episode, recorded in the Oval Office on Jun 3, featured Trump reading Presidents Play!, a 24-page book published by the White House Historical Society in 2020 that highlights how US presidents relaxed through sports and recreation despite their demanding schedules.
Introducing the Oval Office, Trump described it as "the most powerful piece of real estate probably in the world."
When asked by Usha Vance whether he found time to read books for leisure, Trump replied that he mostly reads newspapers.
"I usually read stories about myself," he said.
As he turned the pages of the book, Trump commented on several former presidents.
He described Ronald Reagan as being "in very good shape" and said Lyndon B. Johnson "wasn't into shape, but he was a very tough cookie, a real great politician."
Looking at an illustration of former President Bill Clinton jogging on a White House track built during his presidency, Trump said he had only recently learned about it.
"I didn't even know that until recently," he remarked, adding, "He actually was a nice guy. I like Bill Clinton a lot. I still do."
While discussing an illustration of Abraham Lincoln riding a horse, Trump joked that it had given him "an idea," but added that he would only consider riding "a nice old horse that's extremely slow, lazy."
Seeing a picture of Gerald Ford and the White House swimming pool built during his administration, Trump quipped, "I don't know if I look good in a bathing suit. I haven't had a bathing suit in a long time."
He also joked about former President William Howard Taft, regarded as the heaviest US president.
"He was a large man, very large. He was our heaviest president," Trump said. "And 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."
Trump later praised John F. Kennedy's appearance, calling him "the second most-good-looking president."
He also questioned former President Barack Obama's basketball abilities.
"Barack Hussein Obama was a basketball player. I don't know if he's a good basketball player. I tend to doubt it," Trump said, adding that although Obama enjoys golf, "he won't be in the Masters anytime soon."
Storytime with the Second Lady, launched nearly three months ago to promote childhood literacy, has featured guests including Vice President JD Vance and Inter Miami CF footballer Ian Fray.