President Donald Trump mixed humor with history Friday as he read a children’s book about America’s commanders in chief during an appearance on Second Lady Usha Vance’s podcast, Storytime with the Second Lady, offering colorful commentary on several former presidents along the way.
The 80-year-old president joined Vance to read Presidents Play!, a children’s book published by the White House Historical Association that highlights how American presidents have enjoyed sports, exercise and outdoor recreation throughout the nation’s history.
Before diving into the book, Trump joked about his own reading habits.
“I read mostly newspapers. I usually read stories about myself,” the president said before describing the illustrated book as “really very cute.”
Trump, who has 11 grandchildren, then turned each page while adding his own observations about many of the presidents featured throughout the book.
His commentary ranged from complimentary to humorous as he worked through the nation’s leaders. Trump described President Lyndon Johnson as a “tough cookie,” praised President Ronald Reagan as a “high quality” person and “a very good looking man,” and referred to President George W. Bush and President George H.W. Bush collectively as “the Bushies.”
One president, however, prompted Trump to reflect on his own place in presidential history.
When the book discussed President William H. Taft, the nation’s 27th president, Trump noted that the book also referenced his own tradition of welcoming championship sports teams to the White House.
“Many presidents it says like Donald Trump invite winning teams to the White House. We’ve had them all, which is right here. And it’s true. Winning teams,” Trump said.
The president went on to highlight several championship teams that have visited during his administration.
“We have all the Super Bowl teams. In fact, we have the team coming very soon. We have um all the baseball. The Dodgers were here twice in a row. They won two World Series. We have the basketball. We have everybody come,” he said.
Trump then returned to the book’s description of Taft, who was known for his enthusiasm for baseball.
“And then others like President William Taft throw out the first pitch of baseball. He was a large man, very large. And he loved baseball. He’d go to baseball games, loved the hot dogs at the baseball games. He was our heaviest president,” Trump said.
The president then joked that he hopes not to surpass Taft in one historical category.
“And I have to be careful, ’cause 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, right? Like you, you’re in such good shape,” Trump said.
Later in the reading, Trump also took a swipe at former President Barack Obama while discussing sports.
Referring to Obama, Trump said, “Barack Hussein Obama as a basketball player. I don’t know if he’s a good basketball player. I tend to doubt it.”
Second Lady Usha Vance then responded with surprise.
“Oh, is that right?” she asked.
Trump continued by shifting the conversation to golf.
“Yeah. But he won’t be in the Masters anytime soon,” the president said.
The appearance featured Trump blending the children’s book’s look at presidential pastimes with his own humorous reflections on several former presidents, offering commentary as he read through the stories celebrating the athletic and recreational interests of America’s commanders in chief.
