Vice President’s First Lady Usha Vance invited President Trump to an interview to promote the children’s picture book “Presidents Play,” which showcases the leisure activities of past presidents. Trump, known for his unconventional approach, seized the opportunity to comment on the performances of previous presidents, revealing that he didn’t have time to read the book and only reads media reports about himself.
According to the Associated Press, the “Storytime with the Second Lady” segment that aired on the 3rd was pre-recorded at the White House in mid-last month . Trump admitted that he mostly reads newspapers during his presidency, and emphasized, “I usually read the reports that involve me personally.”
Trump then abruptly shifted his tone, commenting on past presidents. He described Lyndon Johnson as a tough cookie; Ronald Reagan as a highly qualified person; John F. Kennedy as the “second-most good-looking president”; and regarding Richard Nixon, who was forced to step down due to his involvement in the Watergate scandal, Trump bluntly stated, “I think he got into big trouble.” As for Herbert Hoover’s self-invented “Hoover Ball” during the Great Depression, Trump joked, “For him, it was much easier to control than the economic situation.”
Seeing Barack Obama depicted as a basketball player in a picture book, Trump was not impressed and deliberately mocked him with a golf ball analogy: “He won’t be playing in a high-stakes tournament anytime soon.” Regarding Bill Clinton’s running habit developed in the White House, Trump admitted, “I don’t think I’ll ever do that.”
Trump also expressed concern about Abraham Lincoln’s equestrian activities: “I’ve seen too many examples of that. Falling off a horse is never a good thing.” Even after seeing John Quincy Adams swimming in the river that flows through the South Lawn of the White House, he couldn’t resist promoting it: “I think we should build a beautiful banquet hall up there.”
Gerald Ford swimming in the pool prompted Trump to remark, “I don’t know if I look good in a swimsuit. I haven’t worn one in a long time.” This prompted Trump to become wary of the overweight William Howard Taft: “I don’t want to surpass his record. If I let it go, that could happen.”
Regarding the suggestion to celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, Trump ambiguously stated, “Our country is at a critical moment right now. It may go in one direction, but we want to steer it in another direction. We will make America greater than ever before.”
