President Donald Trump showcased his humor and storytelling skills during an appearance on Usha Vance’s podcast, where he read a children’s book and shared lighthearted commentary on former presidents.
President Donald Trump brought his signature blend of humor and storytelling to Usha Vance’s podcast, “Storytime with the Second Lady.” During the episode, he read from a children’s book while interjecting with jokes about former presidents, his own appearance, and even the White House’s plans for a new ballroom.
The episode, which was pre-recorded in the Oval Office in mid-June, features Trump reading “Presidents Play!,” a book published by the White House Historical Association. This book explores how U.S. presidents spent their leisure time while residing at the White House.
When Vance inquired whether he ever finds time to read for pleasure, Trump humorously responded, “I usually read stories about myself,” a quip that became one of the highlights of the episode.
As he turned the pages, Trump frequently deviated from the text to share his thoughts on various former presidents. He described Lyndon B. Johnson as “a tough cookie” and praised Ronald Reagan as “a high-quality person.” When discussing John F. Kennedy, Trump referred to him as “the second-most good-looking president,” leaving listeners curious about who he considered the most attractive.
Trump’s commentary on Richard Nixon included a lighthearted remark about the Watergate scandal, saying, “got himself into trouble, I guess.” He also referenced former President Herbert Hoover’s favorite game, Hoover Ball, created by a White House physician as a fitness activity, quipping, “That worked out better for him than the economy.”
When the book depicted Barack Obama playing basketball, Trump questioned his athletic prowess, stating, “Barack Hussein Obama, golf was his favorite sport. He won’t be in the Master’s anytime soon.” An illustration of Bill Clinton jogging prompted Trump to say, “I don’t think I’ll ever do that,” while expressing his fondness for the former president.
The discussion also touched on Trump’s own fitness. Upon seeing an illustration of Gerald Ford swimming, he joked, “I don’t know if I look good in a bathing suit. I haven’t had a bathing suit in a long time.” When the book mentioned William Howard Taft, often regarded as the heaviest U.S. president, Trump humorously noted, “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.” He then advised young viewers, “For all of you out there watching, keep yourself in good shape.”
As the book featured Abraham Lincoln riding a horse, Trump expressed a desire to do the same, saying, “I’d like to ride horses, too,” before joking about choosing “a nice old horse that’s extremely slow, lazy” to avoid falling off.
Later, while discussing an illustration of John Quincy Adams swimming in what was once Tiber Creek, Trump mentioned the White House’s ballroom project, stating, “I think we’re building a beautiful ballroom on top of it.”
As the episode wrapped up, Usha Vance asked Trump what message he wanted to convey to children celebrating the Fourth of July. Trump responded, “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.”
This lighthearted episode of “Storytime with the Second Lady” offered a glimpse into Trump’s personality, blending humor with reflections on American history and leadership.
According to the Associated Press, the episode showcases Trump’s unique approach to engaging with younger audiences while discussing important themes related to American identity and history.